by Larry Stringer

Created on: February 21, 2010

The Apache: Myths and Legend's

The Apache Nation, originally came from Canada somewhere around circa 850 AD, and as they migrated south, they settled in the American desert regions of Sonora, Chihuachuan and other areas which are located in the Great Basin region.

The name Apache is believed by some researchers to have originally come from the Hopi Indian word for my enemy “Apacho”. The Apache are split into two main tribes, the Mescalero and the Jacarilla, which are then broken down into basically six sub divisions, known as the Chi - hen - ne, the Be - don - ko - he and the Chi - e - a - hen, the Cho - kon - en (the Chiricahua), the Nen - di, and lastly the White Mountain Apache.

These tribes ruled the desert regions with an iron fist, their warfare tactics were unsurpassed, and the name Apache struck mortal fear in all who stood against them.

In many ways the Apache were not the mindless savages that people believed, in fact if the truth be known, the Apache only raided other Indian villages in order to feed their families when times were hard, that is until the white man came.

The Apache were a hardy group of people who survived at all costs. They lived in grass constructed domed huts, called Wickiup‘s, which was slightly different than the Kiowa Apache who used animal skin Tipi's.

The Apache were very resourceful in the respect that before the horses came, they used domesticated dogs for pack animals, and being one with nature, the Apache believed that all the animals were once humans.

Although the different tribes tolerated each other, they did not socialize on a large scale unless a common foe threatened their existence. Then the Apache as a whole exacted their revenge with swift retribution.

Religiously speaking, the Apache medicine men believed in many spirits, and with the help of the drug mescaline which was derived from the Mescal cactus, the medicine men talked to their spirits.

The most important god of all of these gods was the creator god known as Usen, and the Texas god Lipan. During ritual dances the males of the tribes would adorn themselves as the mountain god Gans, wearing elaborate masks, and dancing around the tribal fires, sometimes until dawn.

When hunting, the Apache were a nomadic tribe who hunted any game that strayed within their domain, especially rabbits and deer. The Apache supplemented this meat with indigenous roots, and fruits, along with assorted corn and beans.

It has even been said that the Apache during

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