Walkara, Hawk of the Mountains is a vivid historical biography of Walkara (or Wakara), the influential Ute leader who dominated much of the Great Basin region in the mid-19th century. Known as the “Hawk of the Mountains,” Walkara skillfully navigated the complex social, political, and economic landscapes of his time, exercising leadership over the Timpanogos and other Ute bands, engaging in trade, and negotiating interactions with neighboring tribes, Mormon settlers, and the U.S. government.
The book explores Walkara’s life against the backdrop of a rapidly changing frontier, detailing his strategies for maintaining tribal cohesion, influence, and survival in the face of encroaching settlers, conflict, and cultural disruption. Through accounts of diplomacy, trade, raiding, and alliance-building, readers gain insight into his leadership style, decision-making, and enduring legacy among the Ute people.
The narrative combines historical documentation, oral histories, and ethnographic research to reconstruct Walkara’s story in context, presenting him as a complex and dynamic figure rather than a one-dimensional “war chief.” Walkara, Hawk of the Mountains illuminates broader themes of Indigenous resistance, adaptation, and leadership during a critical period of Western expansion and Ute history.
This work is essential for scholars, students, and general readers interested in the history of the Ute people, frontier diplomacy, and the cultural transformations of the American West. It provides both a biographical portrait and a lens into the social, political, and economic realities of life in the Great Basin during the 19th century.