section i.a of gorsuchs dissent recounts the harrowing historical events leading up to the treaty of 1868, specifically the forced relocation of the navajo people under the command of james henry carleton and the brutal tactics employed by colonel kit carson. the infamous "long walk" of the navajo, a series of forced marches to the inhospitable bosque redondo, serves as a vivid example of the systemic cruelty inflicted upon the navajo people. thousands of navajo were displaced, and many perished due to starvation, exposure, or outright violence. gorsuchs focus on this history is not just to recount the horrors of the past, but to illustrate the long-standing and deep-seated nature of the federal governments failure to protect the navajo people. the united states' treatment of the navajo during this period, gorsuch argues, set the stage for centuries of neglect and broken promises that continue to affect the tribe today. by highlighting the navajos sacred connection to their homeland, framed by four mountains and four rivers (id. at 1819), gorsuch emphasizes that the tribes displacement was not only a physical removal but also a spiritual and cultural dislocation. the bosque redondo, far from the navajo homeland, was a place of suffering, where the very elementsland and waterturned against them. this section also evokes the profound cultural relationship the navajo people hold with their land and water, which are not mere resources but are sacred, integral parts of their existence. the "four sacred mountains" represent the boundaries of the navajo world, and their forced removal from this land severed a critical connection to their cultural identity. gorsuchs description underscores the navajo belief that land and water are not just commodities to be owned or controlled, but vital spiritual entities that sustain life, community, and tradition. *-*
United States