Those who did sign may not have fully understood that they were agreeing to give up most of their territory and to concentrate on the small reservation — the interpreters and the process itself were inadequate to ensure genuine informed consent.

Black Kettle was among the chiefs who signed the Fort Wise Treaty.

His decision to sign reflected his broader commitment to diplomacy and peaceful accommodation with American power, his realistic assessment of the military disparity between the Cheyenne and the United States, and his belief — however ultimately mistaken — that the treaty path offered the best protection for his people.

He would spend the rest of his life trying to make that path work.

The Colorado Gold Rush and the Pressure on the Plains