All about the ancient tribes
The Western Apache were hunters and gatherers. The agave plant was prepared by trimming the heads of the spines, cooking them in a fire pit, after which they were rolled into flat sheets and dried in the sun.
Traditional Apache brews – corn beer and maguey wine – did not keep well and had to be consumed soon after they were ready in order to avoid spoilage. Hence, drinking was a social activity and when the brew was ready it was enjoyed by all.
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.
Apache warriors hunted buffalo on the grassy plains. They hunted antelope on the prairies and deer in the mountains. They killed only what they needed for their immediate use. Their weapons were simple, but the men were swift and cunning hunters.
As a rule, they would never eat bugs, scaly animals, slimy animals, or things which lived in water. Because of this rule, they never ate any fish even though there were plenty of them.
Apache tribes were known as fierce warriors and knowledgeable strategists. The Apache tribes are Native American Indians who inhabited the areas now known as Arizona and northwestern sections of Mexico. The Apache were known for being powerful, brave, and aggressive.
Today most of the Apache live on five reservations: three in Arizona (the Fort Apache, the San Carlos Apache, and the Tonto Apache Reservations); and two in New Mexico (the Mescalero and the Jicarilla Apache ). About 15,000 Apache Indians live on this reservation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Language: Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Dene) language of the American Southwest, particularly Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
“Varlebena. It means forever. That’s all they say.”
To hunt, the Apache used bows and arrows. Arrowheads were made from rocks that were chipped down to a sharp point. Bow strings were made from the tendons of animals. To carry their teepees and other items when they moved, the Apache used something called a travois.
The last of the Apache wars ended in 1886 with the surrender of Geronimo and his few remaining followers. The Chiricahua tribe was evacuated from the West and held as prisoners of war successively in Florida, in Alabama, and at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for a total of 27 years.