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The Western Apache live primarily in east central
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, in the United States. Most live within reservations. The
Fort Apache Indian Reservation The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation on the border of New Mexico and Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of ...
, San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Yavapai-Apache Nation,
Tonto Apache The Tonto Apache (Dilzhę́’é, also Dilzhe'e, Dilzhe’eh Apache) is one of the groups of Western Apache people and a federally recognized tribe, the Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona. The term is also used for their dialect, one of the three d ...
, and the
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation (Yavapai: A'ba:ja), formerly the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Community of the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation, is a federally recognized tribe and Indian reservation in Maricopa County, Arizona about northeast of ...
are home to the majority of Western Apache and are the bases of their federally recognized tribes. In addition, there are numerous bands. The Western Apache bands call themselves ''Ndee (Indé)'' (“The People”). Because of dialectical differences, the Pinaleño/Pinal and Arivaipa/Aravaipa bands of the San Carlos Apache pronounce the word as ''Innee'' or Nnēē:.


Language and culture

The various dialects of Western Apache (which they refer to as ''Ndee biyati' / Nnee biyati'') are a form of
Apachean The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
, a branch of the Southern Athabaskan language family. The Navajo speak a related Apachean language, but the peoples separated several hundred years ago and are considered culturally distinct. Other
indigenous peoples Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...
who speak Athabaskan languages are located in Alaska and Canada. The anthropologist Grenville Goodwin classified the Western Apache into five groups based on Apachean dialect and culture: * Cibecue, * Northern Tonto, * Southern Tonto, * San Carlos, and * White Mountain. Since Goodwin, other researchers have disputed his conclusion of five linguistic groups. They do agree that there are three main Apachean dialects, with several sub-groupings: * San Carlos, * White Mountain, and * Dilzhe'e (Tonto). Some 20,000 Western Apache still speak their native language, and the tribes are working to preserve it. Bilingual teachers are often employed in the lower elementary grades to promote that goal, but many children tend to learn to speak only the widely spoken English, mingled with occasional Spanish, depending on their home languages. In relation to culture, tribal schools offer classes in native handicrafts, such as
basket weaving Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...
; making bows, arrows, spears, shields; and cradles for infants. Girls and young women at the elementary and secondary level are taught how to make native regalia from buckskin, in addition to making silver jewelry. In addition, young men often become jewelry makers and are taught skills in this area.


Western Apache bands and tribes


White Mountain Apache

The White Mountain Apache or ''Dził Łigai Si'án N'dee'' "People of the White Mountains" ( es, Sierra Blanca Apache'), are centered in
Fort Apache Indian Reservation The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation on the border of New Mexico and Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of ...
. It is the most eastern band of the Western Apache group. The White Mountain Apache are a federally recognized tribe. Their traditional area ranged from the White Mountains near present-day
Snowflake, Arizona Snowflake is a town in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It was founded in 1878 by Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake, Mormon pioneers It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. According to 2010 Census, the popula ...
and the Little Colorado River in the north over the Gila Mountains south to the Pinaleno Mountains near Safford (Ichʼįʼ Nahiłtį́į́)). They lived near waterways, which they used for their crops, such as along the East Fork and North Fork of the White River, Turkey Creek, Black River and the Gila River. * Western White Mountain band (''Łįįnábáha'', ''Laan Baaha'' or ''Łįįnábáha dinéʼiʼ'' – ‘Many Go to War People’, often called ''Coyoteros'' or ''Coyotero Apaches'') * Eastern White Mountain band (''Dził'Ghą́ʼ'' or ''Dził'Ghaa'a'' – ‘On Top of Mountains People’) ** Dził Nchaa Sí'an (′Big Seated Mountain People′, i.e. ′People of Mount Graham′)Yavapai and Nde Apache
/ref> ** Today it includes the ''Tca-tci-dn'' or "Dishchiid'ń" (“red rock strata people”, a group of chief Pedro's Carrizo band of the Cibecue Apaches, who were not forced to move to San Carlos in 1875.


Cibecue Apache

(Spanish derivation of the
autonym Autonym may refer to: * Autonym, the name used by a person to refer to themselves or their language; see Exonym and endonym * Autonym (botany), an automatically created infrageneric or infraspecific name See also * Nominotypical subspecies, in zo ...
of the Apache living in the Cibecue Creek Valley and Salt River Canyon known to them as ''Dishchiiʼ Bikoh'', ''Dishchii'bikoh'' or ''Dè-stcì-bìkò – ′Horizontally Red Canyon′, therefore the Apache living there were called ''Dè-stcì-bìkò'Ndé' '', ''Dishchiid'ń'' – ′Horizonally Red Canyon People′ – sometimes shortened to ‘People of the Red Canyon’ or ‘Red Canyon People’, possibly of Navajo/Zuni ancestry, ranged north of the Salt River to well above the
Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border ...
between Cherry Creek in the west to Cedar Creek in the east – sometimes they were found even further west on Tonto Creek, in the
Sierra Ancha The Sierra Ancha ("broad range" in Spanish, in Western Apache: Dził Nteel - "Wide Flat Mountain") is a mountain range in Gila County, in central Arizona. It lies between Roosevelt Lake to the south, the Tonto Basin to the west, Cherry Creek t ...
and the Mazatzal Mountains considered to be Southern Tonto Apache land), today all part of the federally recognized tribe of the White Mountain Apache of the Fort Apache Reservation * Canyon Creek band (''Gołkizhn'' – ‘Spotted on Top People/Marked on The Ground People’, likely refers to a mountain that is spotted with junipers, lived along Canyon Creek, a tributary of the Salt River in the
Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border ...
area, western band of the Cibecue Apache with five local groups) * Carrizo band (''Tłʼohkʼadigain'', ''Tłʼohkʼadigain Bikoh Indee'' – ‘Canyon of the Row of White Canes People’, lived along Carrizo Creek, a tributary of the Salt River, eastern band of the Cibecue Apache with four local groups) * Cibecue band (''Dziłghą́ʼé'', ''Dził Tʼaadn'', ''Dziłt’aad'ń'' or ''Dził Tʼaadnjiʼ'' – ‘Base of Mountain People/Foot of the Mountain People/Side of Mountain People’, lived along Cibecue Creek, a tributary of the Salt River, middle or central band of the Cibecue Apache with four local groups)


San Carlos Apache of the San Carlos Reservation

(''Tsékʼáádn'' – “Metate People”, lived on both sides of the San Pedro River and in the foothills of the
Santa Catalina Mountains The Santa Catalina Mountains, commonly referred to as the Catalina Mountains or the Catalinas, are north and northeast of Tucson in Arizona, United States, on Tucson's north perimeter. The mountain range is the most prominent in the Tucson area, w ...
near
Tucson , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...
), a federally recognized tribe composed of the San Carlos Apache proper and several groups of the Cibecue Apache (excluding the ''Tca-tci-dn'' (“red rock strata people”) clan of the Carrizo band), some Tonto Apache, Lipan as well Chiricahua Apache peoples. * Apache Peaks band (''Nadah Dogalniné'' – ‘Spoiled Mescal People’, ‘Tasteless Mescal People’, also called ''Bichi Lehe Nnee'' – ′Fled to the mountains People′, lived northeast of Globe between the Salt River and the Apache Peaks as far east as ''Ishįį'' (“Salt”) on the Salt River, between Cibicue Creek mouth and Canyon Creek mouths) * San Carlos band (''Tsandee Dotʼán'' – ‘It is Placed Alone beside the Fire People’, oft simply called ''Tsékʼáádn'' – “Metate People”, or San Carlos proper, also called ''Tiis Zhaazhe Bikoh'' – ′Small cottonwood canyon People′, lived and farmed along the San Carlos River, a tributary of the Gila River) * Pinaleño/Pinal band (Spanish ‘Pinery People’, ''Tʼiisibaan'', ''Tʼiis Tsebán'' or ''Tiis Ebah Nnee'' – ‘Cottonwoods Gray in the Rocks People’, ′Cottonwoods in Gray Wedge Shape People′, named after the trees at the mouth of the San Pedro River and their farms along Pinal Creek called ''Tʼii Tsebá'', lived from the
Mescal Mountains The Mescal Mountains (in Western Apache language: Nadah Choh Dasán – "Big Mescal Sitting There") are a series of connected mountain ridges in southern Gila County, Arizona. Their highest point is El Capitan Mountain, which has an elevation of 6, ...
(''Nadah Choh Dasán'' – "Big Mescal Sitting There") in the west to the northern edge of the Apache Peaks in the east, northward across the Salt River and in the north and eastern parts of the Pinaleno Mountains (''Pinal Mountains'', in Apache: ''Dził Nnilchí' Diyiléé'' – "pine-burdened mountain", in Yavapai: ''Walkame'' – "pine mountains") southeast toward the Gila River, together with their allies, the ''Hwaalkamvepaya/Walkamepa Band'' ("Pine Mountains People") of Guwevkabaya-Yavapai and their Arivaipa kin they hunted and camped in the Dripping Springs Mountains to the southwest, lived generally north of the Arivaipa band) ** first Pinaleño/Pinal Apache local group or Hwaalkamvepaya/Walkamepa Guwevkabaya-Yavapai clan ("actual" or "real" Walkamepa cla) (lived as bilingual group in the southern and western Pinal Mountains, also known in English as "Pinaleño/Pinal Apache Band" of the San Carlos Apache.) ** second Pinaleño/Pinal Apache local group or Ilihasitumapa Guwevkabaya-Yavapai clan ("wood-sticking-out-of-middle-of-water People") (lived as bilingual group in the northern Pinaleno Mountains, therefore also known in English as "Pinaleño/Pinal Apache Band" of the San Carlos Apache.) * Arivaipa/Aravaipa band ( Pima: ‘cowards, ‘women’, called by the Apaches ''Tsé hiné'', ''Tséjìné'' or ''Tsé Zhiné'' – "Dark Rocks People" or "Black Rocks People", after a well known spot of black rocks around Bassett Peak (''Dził Nazaayú'' – "Mountain That Sits Here and There") of the
Galiuro Mountains The Galiuro Mountains are a large sky island mountain range of southeast Arizona, United States. It is a northerly mountain range in the Madrean Sky Islands region of southeast Arizona, northern Sonora in northwestern Mexico, and the extreme ...
, their range encompassed the Aravaipa Creek Valley, the Galiuro Mountains, the
Santa Teresa Mountains The Santa Teresa Mountains are a mountain range located within the Coronado National Forest and partly within the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in western Graham County, Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣona ...
,
Santa Catalina Mountains The Santa Catalina Mountains, commonly referred to as the Catalina Mountains or the Catalinas, are north and northeast of Tucson in Arizona, United States, on Tucson's north perimeter. The mountain range is the most prominent in the Tucson area, w ...
und
Rincon Mountains The Rincon Mountains ( O'odham: Cew Doʼag) are a significant mountain range east of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, in the United States. The Rincon Mountains are one of five mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley. The other ranges include ...
(''Itah Gos'án'' – "Sits Close Together") and the southern edge of the Pinaleno Mountains, together with their ''Hwaalkamvepaya/Walkamepa Band'' ("Pine Mountains People") of Guwevkabaya-Yavapai allies and their Pinaleño/Pinal kin they hunted and camped in the Dripping Springs Mountains to the northwest) ** Tséjìné (''Tsé hiné'' or ''Tsee Zhinnee'' – "Dark Rocks People" or "Black Rocks People", Arivaipa proper, because they outnumbered the ''Tsé Binestʼiʼé'' their name was used for all Arivaipa) ** Tsé Binestʼiʼé (''Tsēē binazt’i’ é'', ‘Rock encircling People’, 'Surrounded by Rocks People') ** Dził Dlaazhe' ("Mount Turnbull Apache") or further Hwaalkamvepaya/Walkamepa Guwevkabaya-Yavapai clan (Yavapai name not known) (lived as bilingual group in the
Santa Teresa Mountains The Santa Teresa Mountains are a mountain range located within the Coronado National Forest and partly within the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in western Graham County, Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣona ...
including Mount Turnbull, in English most widely known as "Arivaipa Apache clan" of the San Carlos Apache.)


Tonto Apache

(autonym: ''Dilzhé`e'' lived from the San Francisco Peaks,
East Verde River The East Verde River is a tributary of the Verde River in the U.S. state of Arizona. Beginning on the Mogollon Rim near Washington Park, Arizona, Washington Park, it flows generally southwest through Gila County, Arizona, Gila County and the Ton ...
and Oak Creek Canyon along the
Verde River The Verde River ( Yavapai: Haka'he:la) is a major tributary of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is about long and carries a mean flow of at its mouth. It is one of the largest perennial streams in Arizona. Description The ...
into the Mazatzal Mountains and to the Salt River in the SW and the
Tonto Basin The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage basin of Tonto Creek and its tributaries in central Arizona, at the southwest of the Mogollon Rim, the higher elevation '' transition zone'' across central and eastern Ariz ...
in the SE, extending eastward toward the Little Colorado River. They were the most westerly group of the Western Apache. The Chiricahua called them ''Ben-et-dine'' – ‘wild’, ‘crazy’; neighboring Western Apache called them ''Koun`nde'' – ‘Those who you don’t understand’, ‘wild rough People’. The Spanish adapted the latter term, referring to the people as ''Tonto'' –meaning 'loose', 'foolish' in Spanish. The ''Dine'' called the Tonto Apache and neighboring Yavapai ''Dilzhʼíʼ dinéʼiʼ'' – ‘People with high-pitched voices’, distinguishing them by language. * ''Northern Tonto'' or ''Tonto'', inhabited the upper reaches of the Verde River and ranged north toward the
San Francisco Mountains The San Francisco Peaks (Navajo: , es, Sierra de San Francisco, Hopi: ''Nuva'tukya'ovi'', Western Apache: ''Dził Tso'', Keres: ''Tsii Bina'', Southern Paiute: ''Nuvaxatuh'', Havasupai-Hualapai: ''Hvehasahpatch''/''Huassapatch''/''Wik'hanbaja' ...
north of Flagstaff. Because they shared hunting and gathering grounds with Wi:pukba/Wipukepaya bands of the Yavapai, they formed bilingual mixed-tribal bands with common headmen. Both the band/local group or its headman usually were given two names: one was Apache (Southern Athabascan) and the other Yavapai (Upland Yuman). ** Bald Mountain band (a bilingual, mixed Apache-Yavapai band known in Apache as: ''Dasziné Dasdaayé Indee'' – ‘Porcupine Sitting Above People’, and in Yavapai: ''Wiipukepaya'', meaning ′Oak Creek Canyon People′. In English they were often known as the "Bald Mountain band" (with focus on the Apache) or as "Oak Creek Canyon band" (with focus on the Yavapai). They lived mainly around Bald Mountain or Squaw Peak, on the west side of the Verde Valley, southwest of Camp Verde. They lived entirely by hunting and gathering plant foods. ** Oak Creek band (a bilingual mixed Apache-Yavapai band with two names: in Apache: ''Tsé Hichii Indee'' – ‘Horizontal Red Rock People’ and in Yavapai: ''Wiipukepaya'' local group – ′Oak Creek Canyon People′; in English often known as "Oak Creek band" (Apache) or as "Oak Creek Canyon band" (Yavapai). Lived near today's Sedona, along Oak Creek, Dry Beaver Creek, Wet Beaver Creek and southward to the west side of the Verde River between Altnan and West Clear Creek, eastward to Stoneman's and Mary's Lakes, and northward to Roger's Lake and Flagstaff. ** Fossil Creek band (a bilingual mixed Apache-Yavapai band with two names: in Apache: ''Tú Dotłʼizh Indee'' – ‘Blue Water People,i.e. Fossil Creek People’ and in Yavapai: ''Matkitwawipa band'' – ′People of the Upper Verde River Valley (in Yavapai: Matkʼamvaha)′). Lived along and had a few tiny farms on Fossil Creek, Clear Creek and a site on the Verde River below the mouth of Deer Creek, they hunted and gathered west of the Verde River, northwest to the Oak Creek band territory and northeast to Apache Maid Mountain. ** Mormon Lake band (in Apache: ''Dotłʼizhi HaʼitʼIndee'' – ‘Turquoise Road Coming Up People’) Lived east of Mormon Lake near the head of Anderson's Canyon and ranged up to the southern foot of the San Francisco Mountains, at Elden Mountain near Flagstaff, around Mormon, Mary's, Stoneman's and Hay Lakes, and at Anderson and Padre Canyons. Because they were exposed to the hostile Navajo on the north and east, they depended entirely on hunting and gathering wild plant foods for sustenance. ''Only the Mormon Lake band was composed entirely of Tonto Apache''. * ''Southern Tonto'' or ''Dilzhę́’é'' (lived in the Tonto Basin from the Salt River in south northward along and over the East Verde River, including the
Sierra Ancha The Sierra Ancha ("broad range" in Spanish, in Western Apache: Dził Nteel - "Wide Flat Mountain") is a mountain range in Gila County, in central Arizona. It lies between Roosevelt Lake to the south, the Tonto Basin to the west, Cherry Creek t ...
(''Dził Nteel'' – "Wide Flat Mountain"),
Bradshaw Mountains The Bradshaw Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kañacha, "rough, black range of rocks") are a mountain range in central Arizona, United States, named for brothers Isaac and William D. Bradshaw after their deaths, having been formerly known in English as ...
and Mazatzal Mountains – like the Northern Tonto Apache with the ''Wi:pukba/Wipukepaya'' – they formed with the ''Guwevkabaya/Kwevkepaya'' bands of Yavapai bilingual mixed-tribal bands with common headmen.) ** Mazatzal band (a bilingual mixed Apache-Yavapai band with two names and broken up in two local groups of the "Tsé Nołtłʼizhn' Band" (‘Rocks in a Line of Greenness People’) of Southern Tonto Apache and the "Wiikchasapaya/Wikedjasapa Band" (′People of the McDowell Mountains (in Yavapai: Wi:kajasa)′) of Guwevkabaya/Kwevkepaya Yavapai). Lived mainly in the eastern slopes of Mazatzal Mountains and eastwards on both sides of Tonto Creek down where
Theodore Roosevelt Lake Theodore Roosevelt Lake (usually called Roosevelt Lake, sometimes Lake Roosevelt) is a large reservoir formed by Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona as part of the Salt River Project (SRP). Located roughly 80 miles (130 km ...
now is. *** Tsé Nołtłʼizhn' (Apache name) or Hakayopa clan (‚Cottonwood People‘, Yavapai name); in English simply known as "Mazatzal band" (Apache). Claimed the area around the community Sunflower Valley, the Mazatzal Mountains south of its highest peak, Mazatzal Peak (2.409 m), and to the east in the area around the former Fort Camp Reno in the western Tonto Basin (also called Pleasant Valley). *** Tsé Nołtłʼizhn' (Apache name) or Hichapulvapa clan (‚bunch-of-wood-sticking-up People‘, Yavapai name); in English simply known as "Mazatzal band" (Apache). They claimed the Mazatzal Mountains southward from East Verde River and westward from North Peak to Mazatzal Peak. ** Dil Zhęʼé semi-band (a bilingual mixed Apache-Yavapai group with two names: in Apache: ''Dilzhę́’é, Dil Zhe`é'' – ‘People with high-pitched voices’ and in Yavapai: ''Matkawatapa'' clan (‚red-strata-country People, i.e. Sierra Ancha People‘). The ''Dil Zhęʼé semi-band'' are the first and most important semi-band under which name the five remaining semi-bands were known, those Dil Zhęʼé of Sierra Ancha formed with members of the Walkamepa band a bilingual unit). *** second semi-band (lived along Tonto Creek and Rye Creek in the Gisela area, south of the third/Payson semi-band and northeast of the Mazatzal band). *** third semi-band (perhaps one of the principal Dilzhe'e Apache clans – the "People of the Yellow Speckled Water", their territory encompassed the Tonto Apache Reservation, they were living in the Round ValleyPayson area known in Apache as ''Te-go-suk'' ("Place of the Yellow Water" or "Place of the Yellow Land")). *** fourth semi-band (lived near the confluence of the East Verde with the Verde River, most south of the East Verde between the territories of the Guwevkabaya-Yavapai southwest and Mazatzal band south, the second/Gisela semi-band to the east, and the third/Payson semi-band to the northeast, and the fifth/Pine semi-band north). *** fifth semi-band (lived along the
East Verde River The East Verde River is a tributary of the Verde River in the U.S. state of Arizona. Beginning on the Mogollon Rim near Washington Park, Arizona, Washington Park, it flows generally southwest through Gila County, Arizona, Gila County and the Ton ...
north and along Pine Creek in Strawberry and Pine valleys, a tributary of Tonto Creek, in the
Pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...
area). *** sixth semi-band.


Other bands and groups

Often groups of ''Wi:pukba (Wipukepa)'' and ''Guwevkabaya (Kwevkepaya)'' of the
Yavapai The Yavapai are a Native American tribe in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai – literally “people of the sun” (from ''Enyaava'' “sun” + ''Paay'' “people”) – were divided into four geographical bands who identified as separate, i ...
lived together with the Tonto Apache (as well as bands of the San Carlos Apache) in bilingual ''rancherias'', and could not be distinguished by outsiders (Spaniards, Americans, or Mexicans) except on the basis of their
first language A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongu ...
. The Yavapai and Apache together were often referred to as ''Tonto'' or ''Tonto Apaches''. Therefore, it is not always easy to find out whether it is now exclusively dealing with Yavapai or Apache, or those mixed bands. The ''Wi:pukba (Wipukepa)'' and ''Guwevkabaya (Kwevkepaya)'' were therefore, because of their ancestral and cultural proximity to the Tonto and San Carlos Apaches, often incorrectly called ''Yavapai Apaches'' or ''Yuma Apaches''. The ''Ɖo:lkabaya (Tolkepaya)'', the southwestern group of Yavapai, and the
Hualapai The Hualapai (, , yuf-x-wal, Hwalbáy) is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Arizona with about 2300 enrolled members. Approximately 1353 enrolled members reside on the Hualapai Reservation, which spans over three counties in Nort ...
(also belonging to the Upland Yuma Peoples) were also referred as ''Yuma Apaches'' or ''Mohave Apaches''.


Notable Western Apache


White Mountain Apaches

* Alchesay (aka
William Alchesay Alchesay (aka William Alchesay, Alchisay and Alchise, Apache name Tsájń ("the swollen"), May 17, 1853 – August 6, 1928) was a chief of the White Mountain Apache tribe and an Indian Scout. He received the United States military's highest dec ...
and ''Alchisay'' – "The Little One", May 17, 1853 – Aug.6, 1928) was a chief of the White Mountain Apache and an Apache Scout. He received United States militaries highest decoration for bravery, the
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
for his actions during the Apache Wars and the
Yavapai Wars The Yavapai Wars, or the Tonto Wars, were a series of armed conflicts between the Yavapai and Tonto tribes against the United States in the Arizona Territory. The period began no later than 1861, with the arrival of American settlers on Yavapai a ...
. He tried to convince Geronimo to surrender peacefully. Became later a prominent stockman, made several trips to Washington D.C., and was active in Indian affairs. * Bylas (aka ''Bailish'' or ''Baylas'' – "One Who Does All the Talking") chief of the Eastern White Mountain band, for whom the present settlement of Bylas on the San Carlos Reservation is named, this Apache settlement is divided into two communities, one of the White Mountain, the other of San Carlos and Southern Tonto Apache. * Francisco *Indian name (Gochaaha = Big One) killed 11/10 – 1865, chief of the Eastern White Mountain Coyotero Apache band, maybe he had been in his childhood a Mexican captive and thus inherited his Spanish name or he is to be identified with ''Na-ginit-a'' ("He Scouts Ahead"), an Eastern White Mountain chief closely engaged with Chiricahua chief Cochise – both Francisco and Na-ginit-a being killed by venom in 1865 at Camp Goodwin – arrested because of his involvement in the Cienega massacre and "executed" in unclear circumstances. * Esh-kel-dah-sila (''Eskiltesela'', ''Esketeshelaw'', ''Haskɛdasila'' – “He Is Constantly Angry”, ''Heske-hldasila'' – “Angry, Right Side Up”, also known as ''Clear-Eyed Eskeltesela'', fl. c. 1850–1875) chief of the ''Nadostusn'' clan (''Nddohots'osn'', ''Ndhodits'' or ''Naagodolts'oosri'' – “slender peak standing up people”) as of the entire Eastern White Mountain Apache band, most respected and prominent Eastern White Mountain Apache chief in history, he maintained alliances with Hopi and Zuni, offered land for the establishment of Camp Apache (later Fort Apache), Pedro and his Carrizo band of Cibecue Apaches got permission from him to settle near later Fort Apache on White Mountain Apache territory, he and his band were generally ill-disposed toward Cibecue Apache bands of Miguel, Diablo and Pedro, who had enlisted as Apache Scouts in 1871 and were scouting against “troublemakers” of Esh-kel-dah-sila's band. * Polone, succeeded in 1873 Esh-kel-dah-sila as chief of the Eastern White Mountain Apache band.


Cibecue Apache

* Miguel (also known as ''One-Eyed-Miguel'' or ''El Tuerto'', ''Esh-ke-iba'', ''Es-chá´-pa'', ''Es-ca-pa'' or ''Hashkeeba'' – "Aware of His Anger", sometimes called ''Pin-dah-kiss'', ca. ? – †1871) chief of the dominant local group and clan of the Carrizo band, during the 1850s and 1860s most prominent Carrizo chief, in 1869 Miguel and his younger brother Diablo initiated relations between Americans and the Cibecue and White Mountain Apaches, which led to the establishment of Fort Apache (first as Camp Apache in 1870). He supplied recruits for the first unit of Apache Scouts in 1871, because the Cibecue Apaches were forced to settle near Camp Apache on White Mountain Apache territory in spring 1874, he was killed shortly after during a feud with White Mountain Apaches, after that, Diablo took over leadership from his deceased older brother and avenged his death. * Diablo (''El Diablo'' – "the
Devil A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of ...
" or ''Capitan Grande'', ''Hashkeedasillaa'' – "His Anger is Lying Side By Side", also ''Es-ki-in-la'', ''Eskiniaw'', ''Esh-ken-la'' or ''Eskeltesala'', c. 1846 – †30. Aug.1880) after the death of his older brother Chief Miguel in 1874 during a feud with the White Mountain Apaches, he became the most prominent chief of the Carrizo band, in the fall of 1874 he enlisted as Scout and was promoted to sergeant, in January 1876 he and his band together with other Cibecue Apache bands were forced to move onto the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, only Pedro's band was allowed to stay at Fort Apache – which led to ill feelings towards the latter, therefore Diablo's band attacked on August 30, 1880, Pedro's band near Fort Apache, which resulted in the killing of Diablo himself, not to be confused with Esh-kel-dah-sila, the most prominent Eastern White Mountain Apache chief at this time. *
Pedro Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for '' Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, mean ...
(''Hashkee-yànìltł'i-dn'', ''Hacke-yanil-tli-din'' – "Angry, He Ask for It", also known as ''Pedro, the Imitator'', ca. 1835 – †1885) chief of the ''Tca-tci-dn'' clan (also ''Cacidn'', ''Tea-tci-dn'' or ''Tsee hachiidn'' – “red rock strata people”) and local group of the Carrizo band,the ''Tca-tci-dn'' (“red rock strata people”) of Pedro were limited almost exclusively to the Carrizo band of the Cibecue Apaches, and were the only people on the Fort Apache Reservation who were not forced to go to San Carlos in 1875 during a clan dispute in the early 1850s he was driven off the Carrizo Creek by Miguel, was allowed by the great Eastern White Mountain Apache chief Esh-kel-dah-sila after two years to settle near Fort Apache, Pedro's band intermarried with the White Mountain Apaches and were therefore classed as White Mountain Apaches, however they retained close clan ties with the Carrizo band of the Cibecue Apaches, he and his ''segundo'' (or war chief) Yclenny together with White Mountain Apache chiefs Alchesay and Petone killed August 30, 1880 Diablo, (oft mistaken for ''Esh-kel-dah-sila'', the most prominent Eastern White Mountain Apache chief at this time) in selfdefense, in revenge for the death of Diablo he was shot through both knees but survived, only Petone was mortally wounded, was a constant friend of the Americans. * Petone succeeded his father Pedro about 1873 as chief of the Carrizo band of Cibecue Apaches – now generally classed as White Mountain Apaches. He was involved in the murder of the influential Carrizo band chief Diablo on August 30, 1880, half a year later in February 1881 members of Diablo's band would avenge his death. In this battle, Pedro was shot through both knees and Alchesay through the chest, both of them survived, but Petone was mortally wounded. * Capitán Chiquito (also known as ''Captain Chiquito'', Chief of the Cibecue band, not to be confused with the Pinaleño Apache Chief of the same name) * Nock-ay-det-klinne (''Nakaidoklini'', ''Nakydoklunni'' – "spotted or freckled Mexican", called by the Whites ''Babbyduclone'', ''Barbudeclenny'', ''Bobby-dok-linny'' and ''Freckled Mexican Matthews'') chief of the Cañon Creek band and a respected medicine man among his people, held dances and claimed to bring two dead chiefs, the Carrizo band chief ''Diablo'' and the Cibecue band chief ''Es-ki-ol-e'' to life, fearing an Apache uprising the Army tried to arrest the medicine man which led to the
Battle of Cibecue Creek The Battle of Cibecue Creek was an engagement of the Apache Wars, fought in August 1881 between the United States and White Mountain Apaches in Arizona, at Cibecue Creek on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. After an army expedition of sco ...
on Aug.30, 1881, after the fighting erupted the Apache scouts mutinied as suspected. The attacking Apaches fought mainly at rifle range, however, when the scouts turned against the soldiers, a brief close range engagement occurred. As the battle ended with a strategic Apache victory, despite their inability to rescue their leader, due to the soldiers retreat. After the battle, the American army buried six soldiers, Nock-ay-det-klinne, his wife, and young son, who was killed while riding into battle on his father's pony. The Cibecue affair touched off a regional Apache uprising, in which the leading men of the Chiricahua bands, such as
Naiche Chief Naiche ( ; –1919) was the final hereditary chief of the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians.Johansen, Bruce E"Naiche (ca. 1857–1919)." ''Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.'' (retrieved 25 Sept 2011 ...
(c. 1857–1919), Juh (c. 1825 – Nov. 1883), and Geronimo (June 16, 1829 – Feb.17, 1909), left the reservation and went to war in Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The warfare lasted about two years, ultimately ending in the US defeat of the Apache. * Ne-big-ja-gy (also called ''Ka-clenny'' and ''Es-keg-i-slaw'') was brother of Nock-ay-det-klinne, the medicine men and chief of the Cañon Creek band. He succeeded his brother as chief of the Cañon Creek band. * Sánchez (''Bé-cbiɣo'dn'' – “Metal Tooth” or “Iron Tooth”) was successor of Diablo as Chief of the Carrizo Creek band. This band of about 250 people lived on Carrizo Creek, twelve miles north of Carrizo Crossing, was closely associated with Nock-ay-det-klinne.


San Carlos Apaches

* Casador (''Casadora'', ''Nànt'àntco – "Great Chief") was recognized as the main chief of the San Carlos band, before he left the reservation. * Eskinospas (''Eskenaspas'', ''Hàckíná-sbás'' – “Angry Circular”, called by the Whites ''Nosy'') chief of a local group of the Arivaipa band. * Santo, an Arivaipa Apache Chief and di-yin, father-in-law of Eskiminzin. *
Eskiminzin Eskiminzin ( ''Ndee biyati' / Nnee biyati: "Men Stand in Line for Him"; or ''Hashkebansiziin'', ''Hàckíbáínzín'' - "Angry, Men Stand in Line for Him", 1828–1894) was a local group chief of the Aravaipa band of the San Carlos group of the ...
(aka ''Hashkebansiziin'', ''Hàckíbáínzín'' – "Angry, Men Stand in Line for Him", born approximately 1828 near the Pinal Mountains as a Pinaleño) through marriage into the Arivaipa, became one of them and later their chief. He and his band together with the Pinaleño band under ''Capitán Chiquito'' were attacked by on April 30, 1871, in the Camp Grant Massacre. Led by William S. Oury and Jesús María Elías, who blamed every depredation in southern Arizona on the 500 Camp Grant Apaches, contacted an old ally Francisco Galerita, leader of the Tohono O'odham at San Xavier to punish the Arivaipa. In a surprise attack, 98 Apaches were killed and mutilated by Tohono O'odham (all but eight were women and children) and 27 children were sold into slavery in Mexico by the Tohono O'odham and the Mexicans. * Capitán Chiquito was chief of the Pinaleño band, became together with the Arivaipa Chief ''Eskiminzin'' victim of the Camp Grant Massacre by Mexicans and their Tohono O'odham-allies, after the massacre the surviving Arivaipa and Pinaleño bands fled north to their Tonto Apache and Yavapai allies, together they raiding and fought the Americans until into 1875 with its culmination in General George Crook's Tonto Basin Campaign of 1872 and 1873. * Talkalai (''Talkali'', *1817 – †March 4, 1930, Miami) was chief of the Apache Peaks band, and served as Chief of Scouts for three different United States Army Generals, Crook, Miles, and Howard. In April 1887 he was the leader of the scouts that marched 400 miles into Mexico and captured Geronimo. He once saved the life of his good friend John Clum, first Indian Agent at San Carlos Indian reservation, by shooting his own brother. This act so inflamed some of his band members that he was forced to flee the reservation and move into the town of Miami, Arizona. He was also a friend of the Earps in Tombstone and had been a guest of President Cleveland in the White House. * Michael Minjarez, actor & Apache dialect supervisor.


Tonto Apaches


See also

* Western Apache language


References


Further reading

* Basso, Keith H. (1969). ''Western Apache witchcraft''. Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona, (No. 15). Tucson: University of Arizona Press. * Basso, Keith H. (1970). ''The Cibecue Apache''. Case Studies in Cultural Anthropology. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. * Basso, Keith H. (1979). ''Portraits of "the whiteman": Linguistic play and Cultural symbols among the Western Apache''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. * Basso, Keith H. (1996). ''Wisdom sits in places: Landscape and language among the Western Apache''. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. * Goodwin, Grenville. (1939). ''Myth and tales of the White Mountain Apache''. Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society, (Vol. 33). New York: American Folk-Lore Society (J. J. Augustin). * Goodwin, Grenville. (1942). ''The social organization of the Western Apache''. Goodwin, Janice T.(Ed.). The University of Chicago publications in anthropology: Ethnological series. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. eprinted 1969 by Tucson: University of Arizona Press * Goodwin, Grenville. (1971). ''Western Apache raiding and warfare''. Basso, Keith H. (Ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. * Goodwin, Grenville; & Opler, Morris E. (1973). ''Grenville Goodwin among the Western Apache: Letters from the field''. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. * Gordon, Steve; Martin, Deborah; & Perry, Edgar. (1998). ''Ancient power'' ompact Disc Recording Topanga, CA: Sequoia Records. * Kaut, Charles R. (1957). ''The Western Apache clan system: Its origins and development''. University of New Mexico publications in anthropology, (#9). Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. * Perry, Edgar. (1992). Oral history assette Recording In T. Scott, B. Young, H. Cordero, C. Lomahaftewa, J. Ben, E. Perry, E. Salmon, (1949–1995), ''Film, video and audio collection''. npublished open archival collection * Roberts, Helen H. (1929). ''Basketry of the San Carlos Apache''. Anthropology papers of the American Museum of Natural History, (Vol. 31, Part 2). New York City: The American Museum of Natural History.


External links


White Mountain Apache Tribe (Arizona Intertribal Council)





Yavapai-Apache Nation Official Website



White Mountain Apache Tribe

Fort Apache Reservation Map

White Mountain Apaches at Fort Apache Reservation: Photos and Facts

Apache Texts


* ttp://www.native-languages.org/apache.htm Apache Indian Language (Tinde, Nde, Ndee, Tineh, Na'isha)
Projects.ltc.arizona.edu
American Indian Language Development Institute (has children's video of Cactus Boy story in Western Apache)
Apaches of Aravaipa Canyon
a nonprofit organization working to preserve the site of and educate people about the Camp Grant Massacre {{DEFAULTSORT:Western Apache