Cultural Anthropology - the Apache Indians

Cory Calnan

Cultural Anthropology

Midterm: The Apache Indians

1) General: The Apache Indians addressed themselves as Inde; which meant "Apache People" in Mescalero. The Apache most commonly live in North America in the states New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma. The Apache were known to be nomads so they would be constantly on the move looking for new land to settle on. Their looks are very similar to most Native Americans. They have that reddish complexion to their skin that is a brownish-baje color. The Apache Indians liked to wear clothing that was made of leather and buck skin. The women would wear dresses that were made of buckskin, and the men would wear loin clothes or skirts made of leather. They wore moccasins on their feet, and the women usually had decorations on their clothes. It was very common for them to get tribal tattoos and piercings but was not mandatory among the tribes. Since the Apache were nomads and consistently migrating, they used teepees and wickiups because they were so efficient to fold and unfold so you could pack up and leave with ease. They have surprisingly also been known as a very hostile tribe, although most conflicts were over mismanagement and corrupt tribes members/ chiefs. Apache would often raid other Indian tribes and white man settlements. Their culture clash occurred in the 16th century with a more advanced culture at the time was with the Spanish who had become very interested in an incredibly rich silver mine in present day New Mexico and Arizona. Once the population of Spaniards in this area became overwhelming to the Apache, the Apache started to rebel against the Spaniards and raided their settlements, driving them from New Mexico. The Apaches signs of syncretism were their ceremonial ghost dance where believers danced in the hopes that the settlers would disappear, that the buffalo would return, and that their people would be impervious to attack. They also practiced peyotism, which was the act of eating the hallucinogen peyote and performing rituals or going on journeys.

2) Chapter 5:

They speak Athabaskan. There are 2 Apache languages: Western & Eastern Apache and their dialects were much different than each other.

3) Chapter 6: They enculturate their youth by teaching them how to hunt at a young age and they do a lot of chores and have less time to play. At the age of 5, they learn to ride horses.

The Apache had very different views about war and trade than other tribes and would sometimes raid them.

4) Chapter 7: The Apache most commonly live in the Southwest deserts.

Apache were more commonly hunters and not farmers. They had 13 different Apache tribes spread out throughout the states, which they inhabited. They were nomadic so they were always traveling. Each Apache tribe has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. Women were in charge of the home and built homes while the men were hunters and warriors. I believe that the Apache worked harder than the average American does daily because they had to hunt and travel through states where as the average American is too lazy to get out of their car to get fast food. Their society is just completely different than