North of the San Juan River, K'aayélii was one of the principal headmen. He and his followers spent their lives ranging from the Henry Mountains, the La Sal Mountains, the Uncompaghre Plateau in Colorado's Allen Canyon, the Abajo Mountains, and Bears Ears. Like Hashkeneinii, K'aayélii had fled from the Utes, and brought his people to the Bears Ears area. They never surrendered and avoided the Long Walk, the forced deportation and ethnic cleansing of the Navajo by the United States government.