THE APACHE INDIAN

Year Published: 1945

Creator: Coronet Instructional Films

Description: Dating to 1945, "The Apache Indian" (revised edition) captures the cultural preservation, adaptation, and economic challenges faced by the White Mountain Apache tribe. 0:42 - Introduction to Apache customs and beliefs, passed down for centuries, emphasizing pride in ancient traditions. 1:00 - Discusses the need for Apaches to adapt to the modern world while maintaining their traditions. 1:09 - An Apache man is highlighted for learning new ways to make a living, yet remembers traditional dances and ceremonies from his youth. 1:23 - The significance of these traditions in shaping the lives of the White Mountain Apaches in Arizona. 1:32 - The role of the tribal council in preserving traditions while adapting to modern life. 1:54 - Overview of the White Mountain Apache reservation, a small part of their original land. 2:11 - Apache men's historical and current relationship with horses, from warriors to cattlemen. 2:41 - Reflections on the changes in Apache life through the lifetime of an older man. 2:49 - Description of traditional child-rearing practices, including the use of cradleboards. 3:14 - Women's roles in Apache society, including field work and fetching water. 4:02 - Discussion on traditional housing (wikiups) versus modern homes. 4:16 - Introduction to the Sunrise Dance, a significant ritual for Apache girls turning 13. 4:55 - Description of the communal celebration during the Sunrise Dance with gifts, dancing, singing, and feasting. 5:17 - Details on the duration and rituals of the Sunrise Dance, including symbolic actions like running around a basket of corn. 5:52 - Mention of the Devil Dance, part of the Sunrise Dance, aimed at protecting the girl from evil spirits. 6:17 - Transition to modern Apache events like the annual rodeo, showcasing their horse skills. 6:50 - Explanation of how rodeo skills translate into cattle raising but notes the economic challenges for many Apaches. 7:27 - The tribal council's efforts to address poverty and unemployment through job creation. 7:47 - The establishment of a sawmill by the tribe to provide jobs and materials for housing. 8:11 - Importance of forest fire management for the Apache economy, particularly for the sawmill. 8:30 - Development of new skilled jobs like surveying for those with specialized training. 8:47 - The role of education in improving life on the reservation, with more children attending school. 9:10 - The balance between learning from the outside world and preserving Apache culture. 9:38 - Concluding remarks on how the White Mountain Apaches maintain their traditions amidst change.

Complete Record: Dating to 1945, "The Apache Indian" (revised edition) captures the cultural preservation, adaptation, and economic challenges faced by the White Mountain Apache tribe. 0:42 - Introduction to Apache customs and beliefs, passed down for centuries, emphasizing pride in ancient traditions. 1:00 - Discusses the need for Apaches to adapt to the modern world while maintaining their traditions. 1:09 - An Apache man is highlighted for learning new ways to make a living, yet remembers traditional dances and ceremonies from his youth. 1:23 - The significance of these traditions in shaping the lives of the White Mountain Apaches in Arizona. 1:32 - The role of the tribal council in preserving traditions while adapting to modern life. 1:54 - Overview of the White Mountain Apache reservation, a small part of their original land. 2:11 - Apache men's historical and current relationship with horses, from warriors to cattlemen. 2:41 - Reflections on the changes in Apache life through the lifetime of an older man. 2:49 - Description of traditional child-rearing practices, including the use of cradleboards. 3:14 - Women's roles in Apache society, including field work and fetching water. 4:02 - Discussion on traditional housing (wikiups) versus modern homes. 4:16 - Introduction to the Sunrise Dance, a significant ritual for Apache girls turning 13. 4:55 - Description of the communal celebration during the Sunrise Dance with gifts, dancing, singing, and feasting. 5:17 - Details on the duration and rituals of the Sunrise Dance, including symbolic actions like running around a basket of corn. 5:52 - Mention of the Devil Dance, part of the Sunrise Dance, aimed at protecting the girl from evil spirits. 6:17 - Transition to modern Apache events like the annual rodeo, showcasing their horse skills. 6:50 - Explanation of how rodeo skills translate into cattle raising but notes the economic challenges for many Apaches. 7:27 - The tribal council's efforts to address poverty and unemployment through job creation. 7:47 - The establishment of a sawmill by the tribe to provide jobs and materials for housing. 8:11 - Importance of forest fire management for the Apache economy, particularly for the sawmill. 8:30 - Development of new skilled jobs like surveying for those with specialized training. 8:47 - The role of education in improving life on the reservation, with more children attending school. 9:10 - The balance between learning from the outside world and preserving Apache culture. 9:38 - Concluding remarks on how the White Mountain Apaches maintain their traditions amidst change.

Transcription

e [Music] [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 and ceremonies that took place years ago when he was a small [Music] boy today these ancient Customs still shape the lives of the Apaches of the white m 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 as side for them by the United States government this is only a small part of the land that was once claimed by the [Music] 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 gonal today Apache Horsemen tend the herds of cattle owned by the 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 cradleboard 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 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 Apaches women's work also included fetching water often from a long distance they used baskets smeared with Clay to make them waterproof [Music] 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] relatives and friends brought gifts and then all joined in the dancing and sing singing and [Music] [Music] feasting 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 [Music] her 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 [Music] nearby 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 es in riding and [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] roping this Rodeo took place several years ago but the custom continues today [Music] [Music] [Applause] [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 [Music] 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 [Music] 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 of paches 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 [Music] tribe fore [Music] [Music]

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