Walker War

Chief Walkara (c. 1808 – 1855; also known as Wakara, Wahkara, or Chief Walker) was a Native American leader of the Utah Indians known as the Timpanogo and Sanpete Band. It is not completely clear what cultural group the Utah or Timpanogo Indians belonged to, but they are listed as Ute. He had a reputation as a diplomat, horseman and warrior, and a military leader of raiding parties, and in the Wakara War.

He was the most prominent Native American chief in the Utah area when the Mormon Pioneers arrived in 1847. One observer described Walkara in 1843 as: "the principal ruling chief... owing his position to great wealth. He is a good trader, trafficking with the whites and reselling goods to such of his nation as are less skillful in striking a bargain."

In 1865, some ten years after his death, the Timpanogo agreed to go live on the Uintah Reservation under Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah and merged with the Ute Indians to become the Northern Ute Tribe. Walkara is often considered to be a Ute. The Shoshone and Ute shared a common genetic, cultural, and linguistic heritage as part of the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. At the time, Walker may have been Shoshone and his name, Walkara, means Hawk, in Shoshone.

Walkara was born approximately 1808 along the Spanish Fork River in Utah. He was one of the five sons of a chief of the Timpanogos Tribe. He spent much time fishing along the Utah Lake shores in what is now Provo and Vineyard. Walkara could communicate in Spanish, English, and native languages. His brothers included Chief Arapeen, for whom the Arapeen Valley near Sterling, Utah was named; Chief San-Pitch, for whom Sanpete County is named; Chief Kanosh, for whom a town was named; and Chief Sowiette.

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