Gripmaker,
This is part of the material in my Originals Class persona, a very small part of the documentation:
A short Introduction to the Apache
The word “Apache”
No one knows for sure where or how the word Apache originated. Most scholars believe it stems from the Zuni ‘apachu’, their name for the Navajo, who the early Spaniards called ‘Apaches de Nabaju’. Another alternative is that it originated in the rare Spanish spelling ‘apache’ of ‘mapache’, meaning raccoon, representing the distinctive white stripes of war paint across a warrior’s cheeks just under the eyes which to the Apache is very attractive.
The Apaches referred to themselves as ‘nde’, meaning as do many Indian self-designations, ‘the people’.
Apache culture of the 19th century was a blend of influences from the indigenous people of the Great Plains, Great Basin and the South-West, particularly the Pueblos. As time progressed, influences from the Spanish and American settlers as well.
Tribal influence depended on geographical location in relation to these peoples, and the time and route of a tribe’s early migration. Tribal and individual divergences naturally occurred in what was a highly individualistic society.
Apache Tribes
The Apache language is what is referred to as an Apachean or Southern Athapaskan language, therefore the Apache can be divided into seven tribal groups: Navajo, Western Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Lipan, and Kiowa-Apache. Of the seven groups, the Navajo were a distinct entity because of the development in their culture and were considered a separate tribe by the other Apache cultures. The Kiowa-Apache separated from the other Apache groups sometime around, c. AD1300, before the influence of the Pueblos of the South-West.
The Kiowa-Apache remained on the north-eastern fringes of the South-West, and there were no historic political connections with the Apaches.
The Apache tribes most closely related to the Kiowa-Apache were the Lipan, who had a small influence of Plains culture and a weakly developed band organization.
Jicarilla
This tribe of Apaches ranged from the north-eastern New Mexico into southern Colorado. Jicarilla is the Spanish word meaning ‘little basket’. There were two bands of Jicarilla Apache.
Those living west of the Rio Grande were known as ‘saidinde’, or ‘sand people’, and were made up of six local groups. The eight groups east of the Rio Grande were the ‘gulgahe’n’ or llaneros, meaning ‘plains people, or Plains Apache.
Mescalero
The name is derived from the Spanish meaning ‘mescal makers’: a reference to their extensive use of the agave or mescal plant which made an important contribution to Apache subsistence.
The Mescalero’s domain ranged from the Sacramento, Guadalupe and Davis Mountains of south-east New Mexico and western Texas, and were divided into the ‘gulgahe’nde’, or People of the Plains, east of the mountains; and the ‘ni’t’ahende’, ‘earth crevice people’, living in the mountains.
The main Mescalero band were the Sierra Blanca, the smaller group known as the Faraones made up the southern division.
Chiricahua
Probably the most famous tribe of Apaches was the Chiricahua.
To the Chiricahua division into bands was far more important then the other tribes.
They were divided into three bands, each with minor cultural differences. The Eastern Chiricahua inhabited territory in south-west New Mexico, west of the Rio Grande. Their name was ‘cihene’ meaning ‘red paint people’, because of the red stripe of paint used on their faces. This group contained the Mimbres, or Mimbrenos, and Mogollon Apaches named after the mountain ranges they inhabited.
The Bedonkohe
Geronimo’s people the Bedonkohe, were sometimes identified as a separate tribe, they were most likely part of the Mogollon Apaches because their tribal traits were identical. The Eastern Chiricahua band (Gilenos) comprised the Mimbrenos, Warm Springs Apache and Mogollon Apache groups.
The second Chiricahua band were the Chokonens, also known as the central or true Chiricahua and the Cochise Apaches, after their war chief Cochise. Their territory stretched into Mexico and New Mexico from south-east Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains, from which they derived their name.
The third band, the Southern Chiricahua was located south of the true Chiricahua, and ranged the Sierra Madre region of Northern Mexico. They were known as the ‘nednhi’, or ‘enemy people’, and were referred to as the Pinery or Bronco Apaches.
Western Apache
The Western Apache were located north of the Chiricahua tribe. The easternmost and largest group was the White Mountain Apache, whose territory ranged from the Pinaleno Mountains in the south to the White Mountains in the north.
They were divided into the Eastern White Mountain and Western White Mountain bands, and sometimes referred to as Coyoteros. To the north of the White Mountain Apache was the Cibeque group, whose lands stretched far north of the Mogollon Rim, to the west of the Sierra Ancha. They contained the Carrizo, Cibeque and Canyon Creek bands.
To the south were the San Carlos group, in the foothills of the Galuiro and Santa Catalina Mountains. They comprised the San Carlos, Apache Peaks, Pinal and Arivaipa bands, the last two possibly originating in the absorption of distinct Pinalenos and Arivaipa Apaches.
To the north-west were the Northern and Southern Tonto groups. The Southern Tonto, ranging from the Sierra Ancha and Mazatzal mountains, were divided into the Mazatzal band and six semi-bands. The Northern Tonto, lived south of the San Francisco Mountains, contained the Bald Mountain, Fossil Creek, Mormon Lake and Oak Tree bands.
Various names have been applied to all or parts of the Western Apache. They have been referred to collectively as Tontos, and as Coyoteros.
Division of the Apache Tribes
The Apache Tribes can be divided into three groups according to language, and to the time of migration into the historic area.
The Western Apache, Mescalero and Chiricahua form the typical Apache group, to which the Navajo originally belonged. The second group comprises the Jicarilla and Lipan, and the third group, the Kiowa-Apache.
Gripmaker,
As far as where they originally came from, most Apache historians and Native American historians such as myself, believe they originated from where they are now and always have been. Most Native Americnas dispute the "Land Bridge" theory and recent archeological finds back them up. Most anglo scholars (?), believe that the Apache/Navajo came from somewhere in South America. No one wants to believe that the Native American was not originally here, and we all know why that is. So, how close am I to the information you have?
Bill
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