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The Apache were nomadic hunters and warriors in the North American Southwest (present day Arizona, Texas, Mexico). They moved frequently and perhaps had migrated into this region from further north. After the arrival of the Spanish, the Apache became raiders and warriors, attacking Spanish, Mexican, and American settlements. European arrival greatly upset and transformed their traditional way of life, especially with the introduction of the horse. For this section, we will focus on the Apache way of life prior to European arrival.
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The Apache are part of the Athabaskan language family. Based on Athabaskan language distribution, many researchers believe the Apache came from the northwestern part of North America.
Subsistence & Daily Life
Subsistence & Daily Life
The Apache mainly hunted and gathered wild plants. Men primarily did the hunting, although in some Apache cultures women could also hunt and become warriors. They mostly used bows and arrows and employed hunting strategies like using whistles to lure prey or chasing prey to a cliff. Hunters were expected to share roughly half their kill with a fellow hunter and those in need at the camp. They mainly hunted deer, buffalo, elk, rabbits, and pronghorn (a goat-antelope). Women primarily gathered plants, but men helped with gathering at times as well. Berries, acorns, sunflower seeds, wild potatoes, wild onions, and prickly pear were commonly gathered. The Apache knew at least 200 different uses for a wide variety of plants.
The Apache lived in different types of houses depending on their specific environment. Some lived in tipis (or teepees), some in wickiups (aka wigwams), and some in hogans (made of timber packed with earth). They moved with the seasons, spending winter on the warmer plains of the Southwest and summer in the cooler mountains.
Apache boys and girls played games that kept them fit. Archery was an important competition sport, as the bow and arrow was their main weapon. Apache kids also played toe and toss games to develop coordination, balance, and strength. Apache of all ages also enjoyed storytelling and myths or legends in their free time.
A wickiup
A hogan
Society & Social Organization
Society & Social Organization
Social organization was based on kinship. The Apache lived in extended family units, usually living close together with each nuclear family in separate dwellings. An extended family generally consisted of a husband and wife, their unmarried children, their married daughters, their married daughters' husbands, and their married daughters' children. Thus, the extended family is connected through a lineage of women who live together (that is, matrilocal residence), into which men may enter upon marriage (leaving behind his parents' family). When a daughter married, a new dwelling was built nearby for her and her husband.If a man's wife died, it was not uncommon for him to then marry his deceased wife's sister.
Several extended families worked together as a "local group", which carried out certain ceremonies, and economic and military activities. Local groups were headed by a chief, a male who had much influence due to his effectiveness and reputation. The position was not hereditary, and was often filled by members of different extended families. The chief's influence was as strong as he was evaluated to be—no group member was obligated to follow the chief. The criteria for a good chief included: industriousness, generosity, impartiality, forbearance, conscientiousness, and eloquence in language. Some local groups would organize into a larger band.
An Apache girl with an olla (water container)
Religion & Beliefs
Religion & Beliefs
The chief deity of the Apache was Ussen, whose will governed all. Ussen existed before the creation of the universe. He created the first Mother, whose singing began the creation of the universe. Ussen also created the first Boy and Sun God who shook hands. The sweat from this handshake created the Earth. The Earth was small at first, so they kicked it around and it gained mass like a snowball rolling down a hill, getting larger and larger. Ussen also created Tarantula, who increased the Earth’s size even more by pulling on it with four cords of web which he spun. Ussen then created the first people and fire and then he left. Ussen continues to watch events unfold from afar and still intervenes from time to time.
The Apache also have medicine men who perform ceremonies and rituals, including puberty ceremonies for boys and girls. The Apache also participate in many religious dances, including the rain dance, dances for the crop and harvest, and a spirit dance. These dances were mostly for influencing the weather and enriching their food resources. Certain animals - owls, snakes, bears, and coyotes - are considered spiritually evil and prone to cause sickness to humans.
An Apache medicine man at his wickiup
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