All about the ancient tribes
The Apache lived in two types of traditional homes; wikiups and teepees. The wikiup, also called a wigwam, was a more permanent home. Its frame was made from tree saplings and formed a dome. It was covered with bark or grass.
The Apache dominated much of northern Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas for hundreds of years. It is estimated that about 5,000 Apache lived in the Southwest in 1680 AD. Some Apache lived in the mountains, while others lived on the plains.
For shelter, Apache used tipis, ramadas, and wickiups. Tipis had hide covers. Ramadas were open- air shelters constructed of poles set in the ground and connected by cross poles covered by brush.
There are still several Apache tribes today. There are approximately 5,000 Apaches today. The Apache tribes include the Plains Apache (Oklahoma), the Lipan Apache (Texas), Western Apache (Arizona), Chiricahua Apache (Arizona/New Mexico), Jicarilla Apache (New Mexico), and the Mescalero Apache (New Mexico).
A: In Eastern Apache, the word for hello is Da’anzho (pronounced dah-ahn-zho). In Western Apache, it is Dagotee (pronounced dah-goh-tay.) Some Western Apache people also use the word Ya’ateh, (pronounced yah-ah-tay), which comes from Navajo, or Aho (pronounced ah-hoh), which is a friendly intertribal greeting.
Quahadis were the hardest, fiercest, least yielding component of a tribe that had long had the reputation as the most violent and warlike on the continent; if they ran low on water, they were known to drink the contents of a dead horse’s stomach, something even the toughest Texas Ranger would not do.
“Varlebena. It means forever. That’s all they say.”
Traditional Apache religion was based on the belief in the supernatural and the power of nature. Nature explained everything in life for the Apache people. White Painted Woman gave our people their virtues of pleasant life and longevity.
They played with toys and dolls enjoyed playing games that kept them in good physical shape such archery and toe toss. They even began riding horses at the early age of five. Apache Indians were very religious and had many ceremonies centered around spiritual singing and dancing.
It was often presented to chiefs during peace negotiations and various other ceremonies. Hence we can see that the tomahawk was more than just a weapon to be used during battles rather it served as a symbol of solidarity in many ways. In many ways the jawbone club was actually unique to this particular tribe.
Language: Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Dene) language of the American Southwest, particularly Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Apache is pronounced “uh-PAH-chee.” It means “enemy” in the language of their Zuni neighbors. The Apaches ‘ own name for themselves was traditionally Nde or Ndee (meaning “the people”), but today most Apache people use the word ” Apache ” themselves, even when they are speaking their own language.
The Apache tribe were a strong, proud war-like people. There was inter-tribal warfare and conflicts with the Comanche and Pima tribes but their main enemies were the white interlopers including the Spanish, Mexicans and Americans with whom they fought many wars due to the encroachment of their tribal lands.
The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe in North America, and their reservation is located in northwestern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southeastern Utah.
Apache territory covered parts of present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. The Comanche (/kuh*man*chee/) were the only Native Americans more powerful than the Apache. The Comanche successfully gained Apache land and pushed the Apache farther west.