Apache Indians
The Apache Indians were a tribe of people living in parts of Arizona and modern day Mexico. They're sometimes referred to as nomads because there were so many of them and they often changed locations. There were six different tribes within the main group that were all connected. Those six groups lived in different geographical regions. There are also theories that because the tribes moved so often, white men and European settlers gave the same group multiple names as they encountered them at different times.
Historians believe that the Apache Indians originally migrated to the area from Canada, though descendants claimed the tribe always lived in the southwest. The different subgroups of the tribe made their living in different ways. The tribe known as the Jicarilla acted as raiders, taking what they needed from those around them. They were known for attacking Spanish camps and taking horses, dogs or anything else they desired.
Resources on the Apache Indians include:
- Apache Tribal Nation: describes the lifestyle of the Apache people.
- Apache History: gives a history of the tribe.
- Apache Indian History: looks at the long and in depth history of the people.
- Apache Indian Fact Sheet: offers brief facts on the tribe.
- Apache Indian Culture and History: provides resources on Apache Indians.
The diet of the Apaches relied on the buffalo, which also attributed to their nomad status. As the buffalo died off and moved to other areas, the tribes followed. They later moved to other types of wild animals including fox, deer, jackrabbits and coyote. The arrival of the Spanish led to different types of food as they raided those camps for their needs. They also ate horse meat after stealing horses from some of these settlements.
The Apaches settled in areas where Spanish camps appeared. From almost the moment the Spanish arrived, the Apaches worked with these men. The two sides took opposing viewpoints when the Spaniards attempted to build a mission in an area controlled by the Apache. The Taos mission never came to fruition as a battle erupted between the two sides and ended with the Apaches victorious.
