Apache Indians
The Apache of the Southwest weren’t just warriors, they were legends. Hailed as “the most aggressive fighters of the American Indian Wars,” their reputation was built on unmatched ferocity, cunning battle strategies, and an unshakable will to survive.
But this wasn’t always their story. Once peaceful hunter-gatherers, the Apache were pushed to transform into a force so formidable that their very name struck fear across North America. Discover how they rose from survivalists to warriors without equal—and why history refuses to forget them.
Their Story
Traditionally, the Apache were a nomadic tribe whose lives revolved around the buffalo. And while they lived harmoniously with nature for centuries, the invasion of Spanish and American settlers quickly changed their tune. Suddenly, they had to protect not only their land, but every aspect of their heritage.
This is their story, from their traditional lifestyle and their fight for their land, to how they live today.
Who are they?
The people known as the Apache include several related Indigenous North American tribes. These tribes are culturally divided into the Eastern Apache and the Western Apache—each made up of several smaller bands.
Allen & Ginter, Wikimedia Commons
What is the meaning of their name?
A neighboring tribe, the Zuni, gave them the name Apachu, which means, “enemy.”
However, the Apachu refer to themselves as Nde, which means “the people.” Other self-given names include Inde, Tinde, or Tinneh.
Museum of Photographic Arts, Picryl
What language do they speak?
The Apache are Athabascan-speaking people who are linguistically related to the Navajo tribe. The Western-Apache language is a more specific dialect and is currently considered endangered.
Detroit Publishing Company, Wikimedia Commons
How big is their tribe?
The Apache population has risen and fallen for centuries under the weight of war and forced colonization. Around 1700, their numbers stood at 60,000—but by the end of the Apache Wars, fewer than 6,000 remained.
Against all odds, they endured. By 2020, their population had rebounded to nearly 150,000, a living testament to resilience and survival.
Grand Canyon National Park, Flickr
Where did they live?
Before Spanish colonization, Apache domain extended over what are now (in the United States) east-central and southeastern Arizona, southeastern Colorado, southwestern and eastern New Mexico, and western Texas and (in Mexico) northern Chihuahua and Sonora states.
The ancestral Apache probably did not reach the Southwest until at least 1100 CE.
StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Where do they live now?
Today, Apache tribes and reservations are headquartered in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, while in Mexico the Apache are settled in Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and areas of Tamaulipas.
Christopher Nicol, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What were their ancestral homelands like?
Historically, the Apache homelands were located among high mountains, sheltered and watered valleys, deep canyons, deserts, and the southern Great Plains—including areas in what is now Eastern Arizona, Northern Mexico (Sonora and Chihuahua) and New Mexico, West Texas, and Southern Colorado.
These areas are collectively known as Apacheria.
Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What was their traditional lifestyle?
The Apache were traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers—they lived off the land and moved with the seasons. They usually spent their winters on warmer plains and their summers in the cooler mountains.
National Gallery of Art, Picryl
What is their connection to the buffalo?
The Apache closely followed the great buffalo herds, depending on them for survival. Buffalo meat sustained their diets, while hides and fur became clothing and shelter. Even the bones and cartilage were put to use—crafted into tools, and building materials.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Rawpixel
What did they live in?
The Apache traditionally lived in two types of homes: the wikiup and the teepee.
The wikiup was a sturdier, more permanent dwelling—dome-shaped, built from bent tree saplings, and covered with grass or brush.
The teepee, on the other hand, was smaller and temporary. Cone-shaped and made from wooden poles and buffalo hides, it was easy to set up and take down as they traveled.
Edward S. Curtis, Wikimedia Commons
What did they wear?
Most of the Apache clothing was made from leather or buckskin. The women wore buckskin dresses while the men wore shirts and breechcloths.
Sometimes they would decorate their clothing with fringes, beads, feathers, and shells. They wore soft leather shoes called moccasins.
Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons
What did they eat?
The Apache were hunter-gatherers, and they survived only off what nature provided. They hunted bison, deer, and other game and gathered many wild plant foods.
Though because the Apache is made up of so many different tribes, some did things differently.
Farming
Some Apache bands chose not to move around as often as others, and so they became more involved with farming. The farmers grew corn, squash, beans, sunflowers, and much more.
Edward S. Curtis, Wikimedia Commons
What did they gather?
Beyond the plants they used for cooking and medicine, the Apache gathered wild fruits and vegetables that grew naturally in the valleys. Corn was their main staple, but they also roasted agave in underground fire pits—a process that took several days before it was ready to eat.
They even collected salt from nearby salt lakes, ensuring they had the resources needed to survive in the harsh Southwest.
Carl Werntz, Wikimedia Commons
How did they hunt?
The Apache used bows and arrows for hunting. Arrowheads were made from rocks that were chipped down to a sharp point. Bow stringers were made from the tendons of animals. Their main source of meat was from the buffalo.
They killed only what they needed for immediate use, and used as much as the animal as possible.
What other equipment did they use?
To carry their teepees and other items when they moved, the Apache used something called a travois. The travois was a sled that could be filled with items and then dragged by a dog.
Karl Bodmer (1809-1893), Wikimedia Commons
How did the travois evolve?
Later, when the Europeans brought horses to America, the Apache used horses to pull the travois. The horses were bigger, which meant their travois could be bigger, and thus, so could their teepees.
Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What other skills did they have?
The Apache women are very skilled in weaving. They would weave large baskets to store grain and other food. Basketmaking knowledge was passed down from mother to daughter.
They also made pots from clay to hold liquids and other items.
How is their family structured?
In Apache communities, extended families lived together as the core of daily life. These family groups were matrilineal—centered around the women. When a man married, he left his own family and became part of his wife’s extended family instead.
What is their social structure like?
A number of extended families would live near each other in a local group which had a chief as the leader.
The chief would be a man who had earned the position by being the strongest and most capable leader.
What were the women’s roles within the community?
The women Apache were responsible for the home and cooking the food. They would also do crafts, make clothes, and weave baskets.
C. C. Pierce, Wikimedia Commons
What were the men’s roles in the community?
The men were responsible for hunting, building, making tools and were the tribal leaders.
Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What was marriage like?
Most Apache marriages were monogamous; however, polygamy was permitted. Usually only wealthy or prestigious leaders had more than one wife.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
What happened upon the death of a spouse?
In Apache tradition, marriage bound more than just two people, it tied families together. If a wife passed her husband did not return to his own family. Instead, he stayed within hers, and they would provide him with a new wife, often a sister or cousin of the one he had lost.
But when a husband passed, the path was different. His widow owed little to his family. Still, in many cases, they would offer her another match—a cousin or brother of the man she had buried—ensuring that bonds of kinship continued unbroken.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
How were children treated?
Apache people were kind to their children. They taught them good manners, kindness, fortitude and obedience. The children would often play games that improved their dexterity.
Detroit Publishing Company, Wikimedia Commons
What are their beliefs?
The Apache honor four sacred mountains: Sierra Blanca, Three Sisters Mountains, Oscura Mountain Peak, and Guadalupe Mountains. Their homeland includes all of the land surrounding these mountains.
This land plays an important role in their spiritual life.
Ricraider, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What are the four sacred mountains about?
These four mountains represent the direction of everyday life for the Apache people. It was there that the creator gave them life and it is a special place.
In fact, there is a legend that further highlights its significance.
USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, Wikimedia Commons
The White Painted Woman
According to the legend, a White Painted Woman gave birth to two sons, Child of Water and Killer of Enemies. They were born during a turbulent rainstorm when thunder and lightning came from the sky.
Giant Monsters feared them and wanted to kill them. When the sons grew older, they fought the monsters and won—saving all the humans and restoring peace.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
The Significance of the White Painted Woman
According to Apache legend, it was the White Painted Woman who bestowed upon her people the gifts of a good life and long years. She became more than a figure of myth—she was the living symbol of strength, endurance, and virtue. To the Apache, she embodied the very ideal of womanhood: heroic, resilient, and eternal.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
What are their religious beliefs?
Apache religion was based on the belief in supernatural things and the power of nature. Each group of Apache had its own interpretation of the supernatural and spiritual things.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
What were their traditional ceremonies?
The Apache had several traditional rituals and ceremonies, including fasting and rituals before hunting, puberty ceremonies, long-life ceremonies, sacred-bundle ceremonies, and more.
These rituals and ceremonies involved a Medicine man who performed them, and lots of dancing, storytelling, and singing.
Grand Canyon National Park, Flickr
What is the puberty ceremony and why is it important?
The time of a young girl reaching puberty is sacred within Apache tribes. There are sacred and extensive ceremonies that celebrate this transition into womanhood.
The ceremonies last multiple days and can require months, and sometimes years, of preparation. The girl dresses like the White Painted Woman during this passage.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
What was taboo in their traditional culture?
Traditionally, eating certain animals was taboo. Although different bands had different taboos, common examples included bears, peccaries, turkeys, fish, snakes, insects, owls, and coyotes.
Randall, A. Frank, Wikimedia Commons
How are taboos different between the bands?
Among the Apache, each band lived and governed itself independently, with its own customs and traditions. What was acceptable for one might be forbidden for another. For example, the Lipan hunted and ate black bear as part of their diet, while the Jicarilla refused to touch it—believing the animal carried evil.
Though divided by such differences, both were still Apache, bound together by heritage even as their ways set them apart.
Edward S. Curtis, Wikimedia Commons
Snakes
Snakes or any product made of snake is prohibited on Apache lands. The Apache do not communicate with this animal; it is considered a bad omen to have contact with a snake.
Owls
The owl is a night creature and the Apache people do not have contact with this animal. Avoid having a night owl near you. It is considered a bad omen if an owl hoots near you day or night.
Wing-Chi Poon, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
How did they acquire supplies?
While most of what the Apache own is handmade using local resources, they also get a lot of their supplies from other villages either through trade, livestock hunts, or raiding.
C. C. Pierce, Wikimedia Commons
Raiding
Historically, the Apache had raided enemy tribes and sometimes each other, for livestock, food or captives. They raided with small parties, for a specific purpose.
In fact, the Apache are known to be fierce warriors and skillful strategists.
Who did they fight?
The first outsiders to set foot on Apache lands were Spanish explorers, followed in time by Mexicans and then Americans. At the beginning, relations were peaceful—the Apache greeted the newcomers with friendship. But that goodwill did not last. As settlers dug into the earth for gold, silver, and coal, encroaching deeper into Apache territory, trust gave way to anger. What began as welcome soon erupted into bitter conflict.
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Rawpixel
Defense
Known as “expert guerilla fighters,” the Apache resisted the Spanish and fought for their homelands. They led successful raids for years, defending their land and their culture.
Until something horrific happened.
The Chief
Mangas Coloradas and Cochise were Apache chiefs who led successful raids for many years.
Mangas Coloradas traveled to a military fort to negotiate peace, but instead he was met with hostility and killed. The troops then disfigured his body—which served as an incredible insult to the Apache, fueling the war.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Conflicts
In general, the Apache battled with the Spanish for centuries, both raiding and trading with each other.
Their relationships depended greatly on the band—some bands fought with the Spanish while others traded with them.
Peace Treaties
Oddly enough, when a war occurred, the Spanish would send troops; after a battle both sides would "sign a treaty" and go home.
These traditional yet treacherous relationships continued after the independence of Mexico in 1821—but by 1835, the Apache were facing new conflicts.
National Archives, Wikimedia Commons
The Mexicans
By 1835 Mexico had placed a bounty on Apache scalps—meaning their severed heads were worth money.
Over the next few years, several Apache chiefs were killed for bounties—but their deaths were certainly avenged.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The Retaliation
The Apache struck back with relentless raids that shook Mexico for the next two decades. By 1856, officials in Durango tallied the staggering cost: nearly 6,000 lives lost, 748 people abducted, and 358 settlements left abandoned. For twenty years, Apache vengeance left an entire region in fear, proving they were a force no border could contain.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
The United States
When the U.S. went to war with Mexico in 1846, several Apache bands promised U.S. soldiers they could safely cross their lands. And when the U.S. took over the Mexican lands, the Apache signed a treaty, respecting them as conquerors of the Mexicans’ land.
This peace treaty held on until gold miners rushed the Apache’s land—which didn’t sit well with them.
Fred Harvey, Wikimedia Commons
The Apache Wars
The invasion of gold miners on Apache land led to conflict with the United States and the Apache people. A series of armed conflicts were then fought over the next 30+ years that are now known as The Apache Wars.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
The US Reaction
The U.S. Army established forts to fight Apache tribe bands and force Apache to move to designated Indian reservations created by the U.S. in accordance with the Indian Removal Act.
Some reservations were not on the traditional Apache land.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Geronimo Campaign: The Last Fight
In 1886, the last large-scale military operation of the Apache wars took place, which involved an army of 5,000 U.S. soldiers sent to subdue no more than 70 Apache warriors who fled one of the reservations and brutally raided parts of Arizona and Sonoroa over the course of a year, killing dozens of people.
Chief Geronimo
Geronimo was an Apache chief who played a back-and-forth game with the U.S. military for years. He had been taken to a reservation and escaped, bringing 700 Apache people with him.
He ended up going back to the reservation a few years later, and then escaping yet again. He and his party were responsible for numerous raids and the loss of many lives.
Ben Wittick, Wikimedia Commons
Geronimo’s Reputation
Geronimo became a legend—and a villain—in the newspapers of his time, painted as a man no one dared cross. His reputation wasn’t just words on a page, either. The U.S. Army needed 5,000 fighters to bring down Geronimo and his band of barely 70 Apache warriors—a staggering mismatch that revealed just how fearsome they truly were.
Apache Surrender
Ultimately, the gruesome battle resulted with Geronimo—the Apache chief—and 30 of his followers surrendering to the U.S. military.
Sadly, it was converted Apache Scouts who located Geronimo and persuaded him to surrender.
Camillus Sidney, Wikimedia Commons
Continued Warfare
Despite the surrender of Geronimo and his followers in 1886, Apache warriors continued warfare against Americans and Mexicans.
Americans went on search and destroy missions against the Apache, using tactics like solar signaling, wire telegraph, intelligence sharing, and allied Indian Scouts—putting them at a greater advantage than their Indigenous enemy.
Archivo General de la Nación Argentina, Wikimedia Commons
The Last Raid
The last Apache raid into the United States occurred as late as 1924 when a war party of Apache, who were later caught and apprehended, stole some horses from Arizonan settlers.
This is considered to be the end of the Apache-American wars—but the Apache-Mexico wars continued for another nine years.
Rolling Thunder, Wikimedia Commons
Resistance Groups
Over the next several decades, Apache resistance groups were sighted from 1952 to as recently as 2017—proving that traditional Apache warriors are still out there living among the mountains, fiercely protecting their heritage.
Henry Farny, Wikimedia Commons
Defeat
The U.S. declared the Apache “defeated” after the Geronimo Campaign. Those who surrendered were forced onto reservations, their freedom stripped away. But the end of the fighting did not bring peace. In the years that followed, Apache children were torn from their families and placed in white homes, victims of assimilation programs meant to erase their identity.
Choate, J. N, Wikimedia Commons
Apache Today
The majority of modern Apache live either on reservations or in Tribal Jurisdictional Areas, federally recognized areas.
Grand Canyon National Park, Flickr
How is their lifestyle today?
Like many other Indigenous groups, the Apache suffer from a marked lack of economic opportunity, their communities plagued by unemployment, poor education, and the problems often associated with endemic poverty, including crime and substance use.
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