HistoryThe Navajo people have long been pastoral people since before the first man crossed the Bering Strait before being submerged in the sea. If they had been more warlike like the Apaches perhaps the Southwest would not have been defeated so easily by the United States. Over the years they cause many problems for the United States. One of which they were cunning and were good at allowing their cattle to escape and bringing them back for a reward or stealing cattle for their own herd. They brag about their thefts and how they manage to swindle many Mexicans and settlers out of their belongings. The tribe saw this as a better way instead of getting these things in a more purple way. Military troops patrolled these areas to reduce the amount of theft by the Navajo and Mescalero until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Military forces in New Mexico were tasked by the new policy in 1862 to subdue the Navajo and Mescalero. They were successful and ended up transferring two hundred Navajo prisoners to Fort Sumner where they held them as prisoners of war. After the war, in 1868, a treaty was made and the Navajos were sent to Fort Wingate and the government purchased fifteen thousand sheep to replenish the exterminated herds. They have lived there in peace ever since. Culture Navajos take pride in their family life and the events that surround them. Their isolation from society is the basis of their customs and the activities they enjoy to entertain their people. Navajo culture is rich in heritage, ceremonies and rituals from the past. In everything they do, whether it is the birth of a child, the planting of crops, or the healing of the sick, some kind of ritual is performed. These rituals and ceremonies can last from... mid-paper... In the mid-twentieth century, the reservation was discovered to be a prime area for mining. Resources mined in the reserve include coal, oil and uranium. These resources are extracted and sold to outside industries. Of these resources, uranium and oil have proven to be the most valuable; representing more than $80 million in tribal income. In addition to mining, Navajo timber has also become a valuable economic resource. Approximately 458,457 acres were dedicated to harvesting Ponderosa pine for Navajo lumber mills. Despite the economic modernization of the reserve, many traditions are still maintained. For example, weaving is still an important aspect of Navajo life, and Navajo textiles continue to be in high demand. Although herd numbers have declined over the years, many Navajo women still raise sheep.