History and culture of the Apache

¶ … apache were oppressed as a race did they fight back? forms of racism/discrimination they received and what culture did the apache uphold? (any rituals?) this is a cultural criticism essay.

The Apache have been unfairly considered an aggressive and feud-like tribe by many but it may be more likely that their aggressive tendencies have been stimulated by intolerant, non-understanding neighbors and by mismanagement of civil authorities in the modern century.

Whilst it is true that from the time of the Spanish colonization of New Mexico until as far recent as twenty years ago, the Apache have achieved notoriety for their warlike disposition, raiding white and Indian settlements alike, and penetrating as far as Jalisco, Mexico, most serious recent outbreaks are likely more to misunderstanding of the Apache and bigotry on the hpart of civil authorities. The most significant recent hostilities were those of the Chiricahua under first Cochise, and later Victorio, who, together with 500 Mimbrenos, Mogollones, and Mescaleros, were forcefully relocated (in 1870) to the Ojo Caliente reserve in west New Mexico. .

The Apache history is one of continuous resistance against a mightier people who attempted either to compel them to follow their ways or, seeing them as alien -- to expel them to regions that the Apache oftentimes find too confining or hostile to them. The repeated story with the Apache, from the 1800s onwards under teddy Roosevelt is that they are seen as unAmerican or unWestern and therefore a primitive people that are barely deserving, if at all, of respect since they are inferior to the more cultured White folk. Some of this attitude still exists today although it is less overt and forceful and the Apache have become more resigned to their situation.

The most important hostilities in the Apache history of discrimination occurred with Cochise, who fled with his band from restoration limits in the 1850s. They were forcibly removed to Tularosa, but 1000 fled to the Mescalero reserve on Pecos River. Again they were captured and returned to Ojo Caliente. In the meantime, some other reservations were abolished leading to decimation in the tribe and to many fleeing to Mexico.

The removal of Indians from their ancestral home was Roosevelt's testing of a policy of concentration, and again in 1877, April 1877, Geronimo and other chiefs fled their restoration but were captured and returned to San Carlos.

There were other stories like that, notably in October 1880 when Mexican troops encountered Victorio's party, comprising 100 warriors, with 400 women and children and attacked them driving them back to Chiricahua and when in that same year, Juh and Geronimo with 108 followers were captured and returned to San Carlos.

In 1883, an intensive training program began of Apache in order to train them in the civilized Western way of life with focus on agriculture so that the Apache could become n productive people and settle down to agricultural living. The proceeds of their agricultural labor went to the American nation.

Geronimo and his band finally surrendered Sept. 4, 1886, and with numerous friendly Apache were sent to Florida as prisoners. The civilization program was finally successful and, in due time, Apache hostility in Arizona and New Mexico ceased.

Civilization changed the nomadic culture of the Apache so that they largely became an agricultural people. Subsisting laregly on vegetable, they refused to eat fish and bear and saw them as taboos.

Their women excelled in basket making, and erected their shelters which were largely made of brush taken from place to place and suited for their arid enviousness.

The Apache -- divided into a large number of groups that consist of at least 15 tribes - are articulated, sharp people (not naive or gullible), and honest in protecting property that is assigned to them.(Apache Indian History. )

Apache is governed by the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council, that is a popularly elected representative body operating under a written constitution and charter. The Council appoints all judges and law enforcement officers.