What did the Apache tribe live in?
The Apaches were a nomadic tribe who lived in brush shelters or wickiups that were used for sleeping. A wickiup is cone-shaped and made of a wooden frame covered with branches, leaves, and grass (brush). The brush shelters, or wickiups, to enable them move quickly and without having to travel with cumbersome materials such as hides and wooden poles.
What language did the Apache tribe speak?
The members of Apache tribe spoke in the Southern Athabaskan (Apachean) language.
What did the Apache tribe eat?
The food that the Apache tribe ate depended on the natural resources of the area they roamed in. Small game, such as rabbit was a staple part of their diet together with corn, sheep and goats that they often traded with the farming Native Indians that lived in the Southwest. Other food items included beans, sunflower seeds and squash. The Apache drank a beer made from corn called tiswin (tesguino, tulipai) To make tiswin green corn sprouts or corn stalks were pressed for the juices, which then were heated. The Apache tribe were a resourceful people and could subsist on herbs and roots. They were able to satisfy their thirst when traveling through the desert regions by chewing on a piece of bark or moss which started the flow of saliva.
What weapons did the Apache tribe use?
The weapons used by Apache tribe were originally bows and arrows, stone ball clubs, spears and knives. The rifle was added as their favored weapon with the advent of the white invaders.
What clothes did the Apache men wear?
The picture at the top of the page depicts the typical clothing worn by men. The clothes worn by the men always included breechcloths which were made from a long rectangular piece of animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked over a belt. They also wore war shirts (epuntltesis) which were made of leather. Special, highly decorated aprons were worn over breechcloths and worn on special occasions. During the 1800's men started to wear cotton tunics with a leather belt fastened around the waist. They wore long-legged high, boot-like moccasins made of soft leather. The hair of Apache men always hung loose, it was never braided. In times of mourning their hair was cut horizontally just above the shoulder line. The traditional headdress worn by the Apache were simple cloth or leather headbands which they placed rather low on the head to keep the hair from the eyes. The early headbands consisted of a band braided from the long leaves of the yucca, but were replaced by cloth headbands, often red in color. The Apache also wore elaborately decorated medicine shirts and medicine sashes. The symbolism was different for each garment but typical, potent symbols of the sun, moon, stars, rainbows, lightning, clouds, snakes and centipedes were often included in the designs as were depictions of their principle gods called the "kan".
What clothes did the Apache women wear?
The type of clothes worn by the women of the Apache Tribe were simple and consisted of cotton calico dresses or blouses and skirts. The original dress of the Apache women consisted of a short deerskin skirt, high boot-legged moccasins, and a loose-waisted blouse which extended to the hips and was worn outside the skirt. The women kept their hair long that they usually braided. On special occasions their braids were decorated with bright strips of cloth and shells. Like all women they liked jewelry and wore Turquoise jewelry and bead choker necklaces.
What was the religion and beliefs of the Apache tribe?
The religion and beliefs of the Apache tribe was based on Animism that encompassed the spiritual or religious idea that the universe and all natural objects animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains rocks etc have souls or spirits. The Gila Monster was important and its symbol was to signify preservation and survival. The Apache tribe believed that its breath could kill a man.
What were the divisions of the Apache tribe?
The Apache tribe lived in extended family groups. The major tribes were the Chiricahua, Jicarillo, Lipan, Mescalero and Western Apache. The bands of the Apache tribe were divided into the Arivaipa, Chiricahua, Coyotero, Faraone Gileno, Llanero, Mescalero, Mimbreno, Mogollon, Naisha, Tchikun and Tchishi bands.
Who were the enemies of the Apache?
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 Apache tribe were involved in several major conflicts including:
1849: Apache Wars (1849–1924)
The Jicarilla War fought between the Jicarilla Apaches and Ute warriors against the United States
1860: The Chiricahua Wars (1860–1886)
1861: The Apache Wars in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (1861 - 1900). Leaving the reservation attacks were made on outposts led by Geronimo and Cochise. Geronimo surrendered in 1886 but others carried on the fight until 1900
1873: Campaigns against Apache Indians in Arizona and New Mexico
1879: Victorio's War (1879–1880)
1881: Geronimo's War (1881–1886)
1881: The Apache shaman, Noch-del-klinne (meaning the prophet) began to teach dances and rites similar to the ghost dance which led to the Battle of Cibecue in Arizona
The battle of Big Dry Wash on July 17, 1882 was the last major fight with Apaches in Arizona Territory
Who were the most famous leaders and chiefs of the Apache tribe?
The most famous leaders and chiefs of the Apache tribe included Mangas Coloradas, Cochise, Geronimo, Victorio, Natchez, Nantiatish, Chaffee and Ouray.
Apache History: What happened to the Apache tribe?
The Apaches fought long and hard but were eventually confined in reservations in Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, including the San Carlos Reservation. The final surrender of the tribe took place in 1886, when the Chiricahua band were deported to Alabama and Florida where many were imprisoned in military establishments.
The Story of Apache
For additional facts and information refer to the legend and the Story of Apaches.
Apache
- Interesting Facts and information about the way of the Apache tribe
- The clothes worn by men and women of the Apache Tribe
- Description of the homes and the type of food the Apache tribe would eat
- Fast Facts and info about the Apache tribe
- Names of famous chiefs and leaders and the wars of the Apache Tribe
- Interesting resource for kids
Pictures and Videos of Native American Indians and their Tribes
The Apache Tribe was one of the most famous tribes of Native American Indians. Discover the vast selection of pictures on the subject of the tribes of Famous Native Americans such as the Apache nation. The pictures show the clothing, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes, such as the Apache tribe, that can be used as a really useful educational resource for kids and children of all ages. We hope you enjoy watching the video - just click and play - a great social studies homework resource for kids.
