Chiricahua (also Chiricahua Apaches, Chiricagui, Apaches de Chiricahui, Chiricahues, Chilicague, Chilecagez, Chiricagua) (pronounced /ˌtʃɪrɨˈkɑːwə/; AHD: [chĭ-rĭ-kä´-wə]) refers to a group of bands of Apache that formerly lived in the general areas of southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona in the United States, and in northern Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico (it is not possible to precisely define the exact boundaries of their territory). Western Apache refers to the similar Apache peoples living primarily in east central Arizona. Navajo (sometimes spelled Navaho) or Diné, (means The People in Navajo) refers or relates to the Navajo people, currently Mescalero (or Mescalero Apache) is a Native American tribe of Southern Athabaskan heritage currently living on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation Jicarilla Apache refers to an Apache people currently living in New Mexico and speak a Southern Athabaskan language. Lipan Apache are Southern Athabascan ( Apachean people who are aboriginal to present-day Texas, New Mexico Colorado and the northern Mexican states The Plains Apache (also Kiowa-Apache, Naʼisha, Naisha) are a Southern Athabaskan group that lived primarily on the plains of North America The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language ( AHD) is an American Dictionary of the English language published by New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Sonora is one of the 31 federal states of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America.
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History
Led by Cochise and later by Goyaałé (more famously known as Geronimo), this Apache band was the last to resist U.S. government control of the southwest. Cochise (koˈʧis ( K'uu-ch'ish = "firewood" (c 1815&ndash June 8, 1874) was a chief (a nantan) Geronimo ( Chiricahua: Goyaałé, "one who yawns" often spelled Goyathlay or Goyahkla in English ( June 16 1829 The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. In 1852, a treaty was signed between the U. S. and the Chiricahuas. During the 1850s, miners and settlers moved into Chiricahua Territory, and the Apache population diminished because of starvation, disease, and attacks. In 1861, the Chiricahuas began fighting the U. S. after Mangas Coloradas was whipped by miners and Cochise’s relatives were killed by the U.S. Army. Mangas Coloradas or Dasoda-hae (known as Red Sleeves) (c1793 - January 18, 1863) was an Apache tribal chief and a member of the Eastern The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. In 1863, Mangas Coloradas was killed by the U. S. Army when he attempted to sue for peace. The army took him into custody, and he was killed that night. The murder and mutilation of Mangas' body only increased the hostility between Apaches and the United States, with more or less constant war continuing for nearly another 25 years.
In 1872, the Chiricahua Apache Reservation was established, which only remained open for 4 years. In 1877, all Apaches were concentrated on one reservation and the others were closed. In 1883, the Chiricahua campaigned into Mexico, returning to the reservation the following year.
They finally surrendered in 1886 and were exiled to Florida, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Eventually most were moved to the Fort Sill military reservation in Oklahoma until 1913, when they were allowed to return to what is now Arizona. Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Many still live in Oklahoma or on the Mescalero reservation in New Mexico. Mescalero (or Mescalero Apache) is a Native American tribe of Southern Athabaskan heritage currently living on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation Their last stronghold was the Chiricahua Mountains, in southeastern Arizona, part of which is now inside Chiricahua National Monument. The Chiricahua Mountains are a Mountain range in southeasternmost Arizona, USA and are part of the Coronado National Forest. Chiricahua National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service.
Bands
Since the band was much more important than tribe in Chiricahua culture, there is no native word for a Chiricahua tribe in the Chiricahua language. Chiricahua (also known as Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache) is a Southern Athabaskan language spoken by the Chiricahua tribe in Oklahoma and
According to Opler (1941) the Chiricahuas consisted of three bands:
- Chíhéne or Chííhénee’ 'Red Paint People' (also known as the Eastern Chiricahua, Warm Springs Apache, Gileños, Ojo Caliente Apache, Coppermine Apache, Copper Mine, Mimbreños, Mimbres, Mogollones, Tcihende),
- Ch’úk’ánéń or Ch’uuk’anén (also known as the Central Chiricahua, Ch’ók’ánéń, Cochise Apache, Chiricahua proper, Chiricaguis, Tcokanene),
- Ndé’indaaí or Nédnaa’í 'Enemy People' (also known as the Southern Chiricahua, Chiricahua proper, Pinery Apache, Ne’na’i).
Schroeder (1947) lists five bands:
- Mogollon
- Copper Mine
- Mimbres
- Warm Spring
- Chiricahua proper
According to the Chiricahua-Warm Springs Fort Sill Apache tribe in Oklahoma there are four bands in Fort Sill:
- Chíhéne (also known as the Warm Springs band, Chinde (?)),
- Chukunen (also known as the Chiricahua band, Chokonende),
- Bidánku (also known as Bidanku, Bedonkohe (?)),
- Ndéndai (also known as Ndénai, Nednai).
Additionally there is the word Chidikáágu (derived from the Spanish word Chiricahua) which refers to Chiricahuas in general, and the word Indé, which refers to Apaches in general.
Chiricahuas are called Ha’i’ą́há (meaning 'Eastern sunrise") by the White Mountain, Cibecue, and Bylas groups of the Western Apaches. Western Apache refers to the similar Apache peoples living primarily in east central Arizona. They are called Hák’ą́yé by the San Carlos group of the Western Apaches. The Navajos call Chiricahuas Chíshí. The Navajo Nation ( Diné in the Navajo language) is a semi- autonomous Native American homeland covering about 26000 square miles (67339 square
See also
Bibliography
- Castetter, Edward F. Chiricahua (also known as Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache) is a Southern Athabaskan language spoken by the Chiricahua tribe in Oklahoma and Southern Athabaskan (also Apachean) is a subfamily of Athabaskan languages spoken primarily in the North American Southwest (including Arizona Allan Houser ( June 29 1914 - August 22[[ 994]] was one of the most renowned Native American Painters and Modernist ; & Opler, Morris E. (1936). The ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache: The use of plants for foods, beverages and narcotics. Ethnobiological studies in the American Southwest, (Vol. 3); Biological series (Vol. 4, No. 5); Bulletin, University of New Mexico, whole, (No. 297). Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
- Hoijer, Harry; & Opler, Morris E. (1938). Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache texts. The University of Chicago publications in anthropology; Linguistic series. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Reprinted 1964 by Chicago: University of Chicago Press; in 1970 by Chicago: University of Chicago Press; & in 1980 under H. Hoijer by New York: AMS Press, ISBN 0-404-15783-1).
- Opler, Morris E. (1933). An analysis of Mescalero and Chiricahua Apache social organization in the light of their systems of relationship. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago.
- Opler, Morris E. (1935). The concept of supernatural power among the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apaches. American Anthropologist, 37 (1), 65-70.
- Opler, Morris E. (1936). The kinship systems of the Southern Athabaskan-speaking tribes. American Anthropologist, 38 (4), 620-633.
- Opler, Morris E. (1937). An outline of Chiricahua Apache social organization. In F. Egan (Ed. ), Social anthropology of North American tribes (pp. 171-239). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Opler, Morris E. (1938). A Chiricahua Apache's account of the Geronimo campaign of 1886. New Mexico Historical Review, 13 (4), 360-386.
- Opler, Morris E. (1941). An Apache life-way: The economic, social, and religious institutions of the Chiricahua Indians. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. (Reprinted in 1962 by Chicago: University of Chicago Press; in 1965 by New York: Cooper Square Publishers; in 1965 by Chicago: University of Chicago Press; & in 1994 by Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-8610-4).
- Opler, Morris E. (1942). The identity of the Apache Mansos. American Anthropologist, 44 (1), 725.
- Opler, Morris E. (1946). Chiricahua Apache material relating to sorcery. Primitive Man, 19 (3-4), 81-92.
- Opler, Morris E. (1946). Mountain spirits of the Chiricahua Apache. Masterkey, 20 (4), 125-131.
- Opler, Morris E. (1947). Notes on Chiricahua Apache culture, I: Supernatural power and the shaman. Primitive Man, 20 (1-2), 1-14.
- Opler, Morris E. (1983). Chiricahua Apache. In A. Ortiz (Ed. ), Southwest (pp. 401-418). Handbook of North American Indians (Vol. 10). Washington, D. C. : Smithsonian Institution.
- Opler, Morris E. ; & French, David H. (1941). Myths and tales of the Chiricahua Apache Indians. Memoirs of the American folk-lore society, (Vol. 37). New York: American Folk-lore Society. (Reprinted in 1969 by New York: Kraus Reprint Co. ; in 1970 by New York; in 1976 by Millwood, NY: Kraus Reprint Co. ; & in 1994 under M. E. Opler, Morris by Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-8602-3).
- Opler, Morris E. ; & Hoijer, Harry. (1940). The raid and war-path language of the Chiricahua Apache. American Anthropologist, 42 (4), 617-634.
- Schroeder, Albert H. (1974). A study of the Apache Indians: Parts IV and V. Apache Indians (No. 4), American Indian ethnohistory, Indians of the Southwest. New York: Garland.
External links
- Indian Nations Indian Territory Archives - Ft. Sill Apache
- Return of the Chiricahua Apache Nde Nation, Chiriahua Organization
- Fort Sill Apache Tribal Chairman Jeff Housers Website
- Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache Texts
- Allan Houser, Chiricahua Apache artist
- List of some Chiricaua warriors, probably from Thrapp's Biography
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