OCTOBER 16:

1989 Toronto Ontario - Roberta Jamieson is appointed Ontario's new ombudsman; the 37-year-old Mohawk is the first aboriginal Canadian to hold the post.

October 16, 1837:  After having fought for the government in the Seminole Wars, Jim Boy "Tustennuggee Emathla", a Creek leader, and some other Creek Chiefs, arrive in New Orleans today en route to the Indian Territory.

1869 Manitoba - Louis Riel elected Secretary of the new Comité National des Métis (National Council of the Metis), formed to discuss their rights with Ottawa; he was well known throughout the Red River Settlement because of his confrontation with the Canadian survey party.

October 16, 1692:  The Diego de Vargas campaign to reconquer New Mexico takes place.

1679 Quebec Quebec - Sovereign Council of Quebec rules that liquor may not be taken to Indian villages.

1666 New York State - Alexandre de Prouville, Marquis de Tracy, military governor of New France (1663-67), with army of 1000 French regulars, 600 New France militia and 100 Hurons and Algonkians; in 300 boats and canoes; arrives at deserted Mohawk village of Andarague after rain-soaked march of several days; destroys settlement and Iroquois corn crops. as well as three other settlements; expedition ordered by Jean Talon left Quebec Sept. 14 after peace talks failed; Iroquois turn to English for help.

1652 Montreal Quebec - Major Lambert Closse drives off Iroquois after two day battle near Montreal; town saved by barking dogs. 
 

BACKGROUND:

From http://www.lams.losalamos.k12.nm.us/heacock/heacockss/DonDiegoDeVargas

Don Diego De Vargas
By Chris Churchman
After the "The Great Pueblo Revolt" in New Mexico, Don Diego De Vargas proposed to the Viceroy of Mexico that De Vargas could reclaim New Mexico (NM) for Spain without bloodshed. The Viceroy, Conde de Galve, thought the idea somewhat absurd, but decided it to be both possible and beneficiary. He had De Vargas carry out the "The Peaceful Reconquest."

In the land up north, Spain was losing a lot of money and soldiers in their constant struggle to conquer and settle the territory.

De Vargas took along with him cannons, soldiers, settlers, and supplies for the settlements he was to construct. De Vargas put up the expenses for the expedition himself.

De Vargas did not tell the Viceroy that he was also going up to NM to look for silver (in his spare time).

De Vargas took with him five Franciscan priests to convert Indians to Christianity. The purpose behind this was once the Indians were Christians, they'd have to pay taxes to the church. In 1691, after The Great Pueblo Revolt, De Vargas decided to try things a new way, his way. On an afternoon in August, 1692, De Vargas sent two-thirds of his men forward with all the mules, ox carts, and two cannons under the command of Captain Rodereque Madrid. De Vargas told the pueblo leaders to surrender and no one would be hurt. At that time, the leaders did surrender.

De Vargas, in the end, made his most famous settlement, Santa Fe, the capital of the territory. The result of this important victory credits NM for having the oldest capitol still in the same place. It is here that we celebrate "Fiestas de Santa Fe" in rememberance of Don Diego De Vargas and "The Peaceful Reconquest."
 
 

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From http://www.cia-g.com/~rockets/dNMhist.dvargas.htm
 

Don Diego de Vargas Governor Don Diego de Vargas' reconquest of New Mexico led to its Spanish recolonization. Several factors made the reconquest important to the Spanish.  One factor was the need for  reclaiming the souls that were lost to Christianity.  Another factor was that New Mexico was needed as a defensive zone against hostile Indian attacks.  The final factor was that the Spanish needed to restore their pride after losing New Mexico. In 1691, DeVargas was selected to accomplish the reconquest.  This reconquest was viewed by the Spanish people as being similar to the recapture of Spanish territories from the Moors during the Middle Ages.

His first duty was to quash rebellious tribes surrounding the areas of El Paso.  The Pueblo Indians there pledged their peace to the Spanish government.  After peace was reestablished, the governor moved his troops on to Santa Fe.  Pope had died and the Indians were no longer united under one leader.  They thought the Spanish were defeated and did not expect other troops to return. Consequently, they were surprise when DeVargas' troops arrived near Santa Fe.

DeVargas told the Indians that he wasn't there to punish the people. Instead, his missions was to pardon and convert them.  Finally the Indians left Santa Fe and the Spanish resumed their authority over New Mexico. DeVargas gave pardons to all the Indians who wanted one and didn't punish any Indian for the revolt.

The Spanish won their reconquest of New Mexico because the Pueblo Indians weren't united anymore.  Previous the Spanish lost the same area because the government and the missionaries weren't united.  The Spanish government and the church never did unite in their causes.

They Pueblos didn't have the sufficient man power needed to fight so they submitted to the governor's rule.  By the 1700's, the total population of the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico which once numbered between 40,000 to 50,000, had dwindled to 17,000 due to disease, starvation, fights with neighboring tribes, and battles with the Spanish.

DeVargas' first trip into New Mexico was with his soldiers for the purpose of reconquest.  Now he was ready to bring settlers back to the area.  In 1693, Vargas returned to New Mexico with more soldiers, seventy families, and eighteen friars.  Following the reconquering of Santa Fe, and DeVargas' subsequent departure, some of the Pueblos reneged on their loyalty and pledge of peace. DeVargas had to recapture the capital from the Pueblo Indians.  During the following year, he had to subdue rebellious Pueblos. To his credit, he didn't destroy their kivas and the Indians' resentment was limited.