SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The spotlight on stories surrounding Utah’s Buffalo soldiers keeps getting brighter.
For years, discussions about these special all-African American United States Army regiments were primarily focused on their work in states outside of Utah.
However, more people are learning about Utah’s ties to the Buffalo soldiers.
“This is a story that has national consequences. Because most stories when we talk about Buffalo soldiers, we do talk about Texas, and we talk about Oklahoma. We talk about Indian territory, but it seems most of the national narratives have nothing to do with Utah,” said Robert Burch, founder of the Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation.
Quietly and diligently, researchers in Utah continue working to dig up information that can elevate the Beehive state and its ties to the Buffalo soldiers.
One such researcher is Fiona Robinson-Hill, who works for the Fort Douglas Military Museum. Her countless hours of meticulous research have generated significant findings that have contributed to Utah’s overall Black history narrative.
Her work has helped to pave the way for organizations like Sema Hadithi to generate more conversation and interest in the lives and service of the Buffalo soldiers.
In 1886, members of the 24th Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) were stationed at Fort Duchesne. Roughly a decade later, more soldiers were stationed at Fort Douglas, which is presently located on the University of Utah campus.
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Ramesus Stewart Johnson, a participant in the heritage trail plans, said many people take the history of the Buffalo soldiers being in Utah, for granted.
“The reality is, the Buffalo soldiers here in Utah are what kept the Mormon community as well as the community at large safe,” he said.
Some people may get the first impression that this is a form of “policing,” which Hill points out, wasn’t necessarily the case.
“But it was more complicated than just policing. Because they were there because of the establishment of Uinta Ouray reservation,” Hill said.
Hill explained the soldiers were sent out to Utah to monitor the reservation and make sure things didn’t get out of hand.
“Whether that was to make sure no uprisings happened, or to make sure the Utes stayed on the reservation, or to make sure that white settlers didn’t settle on the reservation,” she said.
It was a successful mission for the Buffalo soldiers, who remained in the state until 1903.
As more interest continues to build, several local and state preservation groups have partnered together to work on establishing a Buffalo soldier heritage trail.
MORE:Utah preservation groups plan statewide launch of Buffalo Soldier heritage trail
When tackling subjects involving race, finding the best approach can be tricky, when other entities are involved but so far, that’s not the case with this new project.
“It’s interesting. We may have our divisions about a lot of things but when it comes to the military, everybody loves the guy in uniform,” said Burch.
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Publish date : 2024-08-17 07:15:00
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