During the late 1800’s the US government attempted to bring peace back to the west by reducing territorial conflict between Indian tribes and western settlers. Indian tribes were to be given land and promised goods to keep conflict at a minimum; however, pressure from the settlers and failure to provide the promised goods sparked conflicts. Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins and the people of her tribe were some of those affected by the reservation policy’s failures. Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins did have a claim to demand her tibe’s land back because of her background, reservation laws in place, and reperations for how badly her tribe was treated. Sarah had a claim to demand the tribe’s land back simply due to her background. Sarah Winnemucca is an Indian woman, part of the Piute tribe. The Piute tribe, as well as many other tribes, were murdered by the US army. The Indian reservations are not being protected enough which can be seen by Sarah saying, “enroachments of the white settlers”1. According to Sarah she is the “grandaughter of Capatian Truckee, who promised friendship for his tribe to General Fremont, whom he guided into California and served through the Mexican war”2. She had such an influential …show more content…
In the petition for the reuinion and land rights of the Piute tribe, Sarah Winnemucca states that “the tribe of Piute Indians . . . has of late been deprived of the Malheur Reservation decreed to them by President Grant.”5 The Piute tribe legally is supposed to have the Malheur reservation so it makes sense for them to get it back. Also, a part of the Piute tribe was taken away from the rest of the tribe and transferred to the Yakima reservation, Sarah also includes in the petition that they should be reunited. They were pledged to see their families by the Secretary of the Interior as well even though they were being seperated from