Some 800 years ago, several small bands of hunters arrived in what is now New Mexico. They called themselves the Inde, meaning "the people." Over the following centuries, they would spread across the Southwest. They became known as the Apache, from the Zuñi word meaning "great enemy."
Skillful hunters, the Apache traveled alongside migrating herds of buffalo and elk. They carried their homes on their backs in the form of animal-skin tents called tepees. While the men hunted, Apache women gathered food plants, cared for the children, and prepared meals. They also made beautiful pottery and finely woven baskets.
The early Apache worshipped spirits, called gans, which they believed inhabited the hills of the Southwest. They performed dances and held festivals to honor these spirits. The Mountain Spirit Dance, for instance, called upon the gans to cure illness. The Apache believed that the mountain spirits gave them their sacred songs and dances. As part of their religion, they made special visits to certain peaks in present-day Arizona and New Mexico. Many Apaches still honor these mountains as sacred.
With the Apache's fame as great hunters came their reputation as ruthless warriors. In the 1700s, they led raids against neighboring tribes, as well as early Spanish settlers. Nonetheless, by the 1800s, white settlers had moved into Apache territory from all sides. The U.S. Army and government policies promoted this invasion of the Apache's land. In 1860, the army began forcing the Apache onto small reservations.
Not surprisingly, many Apaches hated their forced confinement. They longed to move freely across the land and hunt as they had for centuries. Many fled the reservations. They formed warrior bands that raided white settlements and army posts. Among the fiercest of these groups was the one led by Cochise, whose name means "firewood" in the Apache language.
In 1861, the U.S. Army captured Cochise and several members of his band. Falsely accused of kidnapping a white child, Cochise managed to escape. But five of his followers were hanged. For over a decade, Cochise relentlessly raided army outposts to avenge their deaths.
The U.S. Army finally subdued Cochise. But another band of warriors -led by Geronimo- continued to defy orders to live on a reservation. In 1882, Geronimo's band fled Mexico. From there they conducted raids on U.S. soldiers in the Southwest. In 1883, the Army forced Geronimo to surrender and sent him to a reservation in Arizona. He escaped yet again in 1885 and led a revolt throughout Arizona. His band captured 250 horses and mules, and killed 38 people.
In the terrible campaign to subdue the Apache, U.S. soldiers received orders to "kill every Indian man capable of bearing arms, and capture all Indian women and children." In 1886, Geronimo made his final surrender. This largely ended Native American warfare in the United States.
Today, the Apache number more than 57,000. Many live on reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. They have begun transforming their impoverished communities with Apache-owned businesses, which include lumber and cattle companies. They also own several popular ski resorts. The Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico run their own profitable mining business. At the same time, the Apache have continued to maintain and celebrate many of their traditional social and religious activities.
Skillful hunters, the Apache traveled alongside migrating herds of buffalo and elk. They carried their homes on their backs in the form of animal-skin tents called tepees. While the men hunted, Apache women gathered food plants, cared for the children, and prepared meals. They also made beautiful pottery and finely woven baskets.
The early Apache worshipped spirits, called gans, which they believed inhabited the hills of the Southwest. They performed dances and held festivals to honor these spirits. The Mountain Spirit Dance, for instance, called upon the gans to cure illness. The Apache believed that the mountain spirits gave them their sacred songs and dances. As part of their religion, they made special visits to certain peaks in present-day Arizona and New Mexico. Many Apaches still honor these mountains as sacred.
A Warrior Tribe
With the Apache's fame as great hunters came their reputation as ruthless warriors. In the 1700s, they led raids against neighboring tribes, as well as early Spanish settlers. Nonetheless, by the 1800s, white settlers had moved into Apache territory from all sides. The U.S. Army and government policies promoted this invasion of the Apache's land. In 1860, the army began forcing the Apache onto small reservations.
Not surprisingly, many Apaches hated their forced confinement. They longed to move freely across the land and hunt as they had for centuries. Many fled the reservations. They formed warrior bands that raided white settlements and army posts. Among the fiercest of these groups was the one led by Cochise, whose name means "firewood" in the Apache language.
In 1861, the U.S. Army captured Cochise and several members of his band. Falsely accused of kidnapping a white child, Cochise managed to escape. But five of his followers were hanged. For over a decade, Cochise relentlessly raided army outposts to avenge their deaths.
The U.S. Army finally subdued Cochise. But another band of warriors -led by Geronimo- continued to defy orders to live on a reservation. In 1882, Geronimo's band fled Mexico. From there they conducted raids on U.S. soldiers in the Southwest. In 1883, the Army forced Geronimo to surrender and sent him to a reservation in Arizona. He escaped yet again in 1885 and led a revolt throughout Arizona. His band captured 250 horses and mules, and killed 38 people.
In the terrible campaign to subdue the Apache, U.S. soldiers received orders to "kill every Indian man capable of bearing arms, and capture all Indian women and children." In 1886, Geronimo made his final surrender. This largely ended Native American warfare in the United States.
The Apache Today
Today, the Apache number more than 57,000. Many live on reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. They have begun transforming their impoverished communities with Apache-owned businesses, which include lumber and cattle companies. They also own several popular ski resorts. The Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico run their own profitable mining business. At the same time, the Apache have continued to maintain and celebrate many of their traditional social and religious activities.
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