The Apache Indian

for [Music] [Applause] [Music] a very special way of life customs and beliefs passed down for hundreds of years the Apache Indians take great pride in their ancient Traditions yet they've also had to learn new things to adjust to the larger world around them this Apache man has learned a new way of making a living but he can remember the dances in ceremonies that took place years ago when he was a small boy today these ancient Customs still shape the lives of the Apaches of the White Mountains in Arizona preserving this special way of life is one of the goals of the tribal council which manages the Affairs of the White Mountain Apaches the council has found many ways of adjusting to the modern world while keeping alive the ancient traditions of their tribe the home of the White Mountain Apaches is on a reservation set aside for them by the United States government this is only a small part of the land that was once claimed by the Apaches Apache men are proud of their skill as Horsemen once about a 100 years ago they fought Fierce battles on Horseback led by Chief jonal today Apache Horsemen tend the herds of cattle owned by their tribe this man has seen many changes in his lifetime let's see what aache life was like when he was a small baby he had a special kind of crib called a cradle [Music] board the baby was laced in snugly and carried on his mother's back or the Cradle board might be hung on a tree while a mother worked [Music] besides caring for the children an Apache woman also had to work in the fields tending the growing crops this has always been considered women's work by the [Music] Apaches women's work also included fetching water often from a long distance they used baskets smeared with Clay to make them [Music] waterproof years ago all Apaches lived in Huts called wikip and some families still do but many have modern houses a special celebration of the Apaches was the sunrise dance at the age of 13 an Apache girl becomes a woman and this dance was her celebration [Music] [Music] relatives and friends brought gifts and then all joined in the dancing and singing and feasting [Music] [Music] the dance lasted for 3 days from sunrise to sunset on each day in one part of the dance the girl being honored would run around a basket of corn and a group of children followed her this meant that she would always be strong and active and that her children would always follow her [Music] on the second day a new part of the ritual began the Devil Dance the Apaches believed this dance would protect the young girl by scaring away any evil spirits that might be lurking near [Music] by this celebration and many of the other Customs we've seen are still practiced today by the White Mountain [Music] Apaches another special event for the Apaches was the rodeo that came every year after the Roundup of the cattle people from several Apache communities came to the rodeo and they competed for prizes in riding and roping [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] this Rodeo took place several years ago but the custom continues today [Music] [Music] the skills demonstrated at the rodeo have helped the Apaches to become experts at raising cattle but today not all Apaches are able to make a living as Cattlemen and it's often difficult to find other kinds of work one of the concerns of the tribal council is that many Apache families are very poor because the men are not able to find good jobs the council has been working to develop more and better jobs for their people a large Sawmill has been built by the tribe and this has provided many jobs from The Sawmill comes lumber for clean modern houses on the reservation helping Apache families to live a better life a forest fire it could destroy many of the trees that are needed by the Apache Sawmill that's why Apache men have learned how to fight forest fires other skilled jobs such as surveying have opened up for Apache men who have been able to get the special training that is needed training and education have helped to improve life on the reservation that's why more and more Apache children are being sent to school the White Mountain Apaches are learning many new things from the outside world but in spite of many changes the Apaches have also preserved the special customs and way of life of their tribe [Music] I [Music]