[Lorenzo Hubbell] was one of the first. Most of your traders all float into
the country when the Navajos come back from signing their peace treaty. They
had been acclimated to coffee beans, sugar, flour, yard goods, canned goods,
and here came the trader--just like anywhere else.
Bill Malone
The American Indians of the old Southwest might not have cared for Anglo ways,
but they learned to appreciate Anglo goods. During their brief, tragic internment
at Fort Sumner, Navajos grew accustomed to the tools, cloth, and staple foods
of the white world. By the time they signed a peace treaty in 1868, returned
to their homeland, and became shepherds, the Navajo had already come to depend
on goods that could only be acquired from Anglo merchants.
White traders recognized this opportunity and soon opened trading posts in the Four Corners region. Though the indigenous people were generally peaceful, these businessmen still faced many challenges: a harsh and remote land, difficult transportation, and a lack of money among the local populace. The trader became merchant and banker, often extending credit until a rug was brought in or wool was gathered in the spring. Many Indians used their beautiful silver jewelry for collateral, and pawn became the cornerstone of the trading economy.
As the nineteenth century wore on, railroads and towns grew up along the edges of the reservations. More and more settlers found their livelihood trading in and around Indian communities. Wholesale houses developed in Flagstaff and Gallup to serve the traders, and the wholesalers worked to develop new markets for Indian arts and crafts. Advertising campaigns by the passenger department of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway also did much to stimulate tourism and an interest in all things Southwestern. For those who understood the business, Indian trading became a lucrative activity.
Most of the successful traders were much more than just business people. Often members of the Native American communities they served, trading families became intermediaries between the Anglo and Indian worlds. They helped their neighbors write letters, get jobs on the railroad, or travel to the nearest doctor. At times traders functioned as intercessors, helping Indians deal with the complexities of the federal government and business. In return, many trading families were welcomed into native society, gaining entry into a rich culture.
Concerned about preserving the authenticity of Native American arts and crafts, a group of trading post operators came together in 1931 to form the non-profit United Indian Traders Association (UITA). The UITA held an annual meeting that rotated between Flagstaff, Gallup, and Farmington. Taxes, tribal leases, and the sale of imitation Indian crafts were the group's major issues. The annual meeting, which included a dinner and dance, provided social opportunities for the traders' families.
The years following World War II brought great changes to Indian country and
to traders. Many Native Americans had gone to war or worked off the reservations,
which led to more awareness of life in the Anglo world. Improved roads allowed
Indians to shop more frequently in border towns near the reservations. There
native customers discovered lower prices, if they had cash to make purchases.
Southwestern Indians were increasingly drawn toward the economic mainstream.
During the social turbulence of the early 1970s, conflict arose between the
traders and the Navajo Nation. Accusations were made that some of the traders'
business practices, especially those involving pawn, were unfair. While the
traders maintained that high business costs and cultural misunderstandings caused
discontent, lengthy Federal Trade Commission hearings resulted in stricter regulation
by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The pawn business on the reservations virtually
ceased.
The new regulations, as well as competition from off-reservation businesses, impacted the traditional trading post and ultimately the United Indian Traders Association. As of 2000, most of the old posts have closed, become convenience stores, or evolved into tourist-oriented arts and crafts galleries.
Though the traders' heyday is past, these stories help us relive the hardship and adventure of life in the old Southwest.