Panel: The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the American West

Members of the 9th Cavalry of Buffalo Soldiers passed through Moab in the summer of 1878, accompanying surveyors to map the newly established Colorado state line. These troops, on this assignment and many others, played a significant role in the country’s push ever westward and the resulting displacement and violence imposed upon Indigenous communities across the West. This program brings experts from across the region to discuss the Buffalo Soldiers’ complex legacy, interrogating how we understand traditional tales of settlement, opportunity, and identity. Johnny Taylor Valdez, Louis Gregory McAllister, and Chip Thomas come together to discuss these themes, and how we might approach a more complete history of the American West. Panel moderated by Michele Jordan Johnson, Executive Director of Canyonlands Field Institute and former Trustee at the Moab Museum. This program is October 8 at 6pm, and available both in-person at the Moab Museum and virtually at the link below. Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89474346906