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#1. The Hualapai Tribe Lived In Wikiups
The Hualapai Tribe was a Southwest Indian Tribe that lived in Wikiups, which was common for many of the tribes in that area of the United States.
Wikiups is another word used for Wigwams.
Wikiups were single-room, dome-shaped dwellings with a great deal of variation in size, shape, and materials.
These single-family dwellings suited their lifestyle and had the flexibility for different seasons.
#2. The Hualapai Fought A War With Americans Who Were Expanding West
The Hualapai Tribe came into conflict with the expanding Americans after the Civil War. The conflict came to a head in the Battle of Cherum Peak.
The battle raged for an entire day and ended with the death of an American Lieutenant and 21 dead warriors, with many more wounded. The United States' victory broke the Hualapai resistance.
The warrior Sherum, who was known for his tenacity as a warrior, later surrendered, thus marking the end of the Hualapai Wars in 1870. It is estimated that one-third of the Hualapai people were killed during this war, either by conflict or disease.
#3. Disease Weakened The Tribe's Power
The Hualapai tribe was known as a powerful tribe and put up stiff resistance. Unfortunately, disease trickled into their ranks and began to spread.
Like many other Native American tribes in the western hemisphere, they did not have immunity. Smallpox, Whooping Cough, and Dysentery began to destroy their ranks and weaken their power due to the loss of population.
If not for the loss of life to disease, the Hualapai and other tribes would not have fallen so quickly. They were brave warriors, but in order to wage a sophisticated war, you cannot lose so much population due to disease.
#4. The Hualapai Reservation Was Established in 1883
After years of fighting, the Hualapai tribe agreed to go to a reservation. The reservation is about 1 million acres or 108 miles of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.
The reservation is not the home of any casinos but survives due to tourism. The reservation is also rich, with many wild animals to hunt.
The tribe sells guided big-game hunting permits for desert bighorn sheep, trophy elk, antelope, and mountain lions.
The reservation was put into place by President Chester A. Arthur.
#5. The Hualapai Seal Tells Of Their Story and Culture
The Hualapai tribe seal has special meanings for its members:
This comes from the Hualapai Tribe Website:
The Great Spirit created man and woman in his own image. In doing so, both were created as equals and dependent on each other in order to survive. Great respect was shown for each other; in doing so, happiness and contentment was achieved.
The connecting of the hair makes them one person, as happiness cannot be achieved without each other.
The canyons, where the people were created, are represented by the purple in the middle ground. These canyons are sacred and should be treated at all times.
The reservation is pictured to represent the land that is ours. The reservation is our heritage and the heritage of our children yet unborn. Be good to our land, and it will continue to be good to us.
The sun is the symbol of life; without it, nothing is possible-plants won’t grow -there will be no life. The sun also represents the dawn of the Hualapai people. Through hard work, determination, and education, everything is possible.
The tracks in the middle represent the coyote and other animals that were here before us.
The green symbolizes pine trees, representing us, Hualapai-PEOPLE OF THE TALL PINES.