Food Apache

various apache containers: baskets, bowls , jars. women-made baskets hold heavy loads , made yucca or willow leaves or juniper bark.

apache people obtained food 4 main sources:

hunting wild animals,
gathering wild plants,
growing domesticated plants
trading or raiding neighboring tribes livestock , agricultural products.

particular types of foods eaten group depending upon respective environment.

hunting

hunting done men, although there exceptions depending on animal , culture (e.g. lipan women in hunting rabbits , chiricahua boys allowed hunt rabbits).

apache jug

hunting had elaborate preparations, such fasting , religious rituals performed medicine men before , after hunt. in lipan culture, since deer protected mountain spirits, great care taken in mountain spirit rituals in order ensure smooth deer hunting. slaughter of animals must performed following religious guidelines (many of recorded in religious stories) prescribing how cut animals, prayers recite, , proper disposal of bones. common practice among southern athabascan hunters distribution of slaughtered game. example, among mescalero hunter expected share as 1 half of kill fellow hunter , needy people @ camp. feelings of individuals concerning practice spoke of social obligation , spontaneous generosity.

the common hunting weapon before introduction of european guns bow , arrow. various hunting strategies used. techniques involved using animal head masks worn disguise. whistles used lure animals closer. technique relay method hunters positioned @ various points chase prey in turns in order tire animal. similar method involved chasing prey down steep cliff.

eating animals taboo. although different cultures had different taboos, common examples of taboo animals included bears, peccaries, turkeys, fish, snakes, insects, owls, , coyotes. example of taboo differences: black bear part of lipan diet (although not common buffalo, deer, or antelope), jicarilla never ate bear because considered evil animal. taboos regional phenomena, such of eating fish, taboo throughout southwest (e.g. in pueblo cultures hopi , zuni) , considered snake-like (an evil animal) in physical appearance.

the western apache hunted deer , pronghorns in ideal late fall season. after meat smoked jerky around november, migration farm sites along stream banks in mountains winter camps in salt, black, gila river , colorado river valleys.

the primary game of chiricahua deer followed pronghorn. lesser game included: cottontail rabbits (but not jack rabbits), opossums, squirrels, surplus horses, surplus mules, wapiti (elk), wild cattle, wood rats.

the mescalero hunted deer. other animals hunted include: bighorn sheep, buffalo (for living closer plains), cottontail rabbits, elk, horses, mules, opossums, pronghorn, wild steers , wood rats. beavers, minks, muskrats, , weasels hunted hides , body parts not eaten.

the principal quarry animals of jicarilla bighorn sheep, buffalo, deer, elk , pronghorn. other game animals included beaver, bighorn sheep, chief hares, chipmunks, doves, ground hogs, grouse, peccaries, porcupines, prairie dogs, quail, rabbits, skunks, snow birds, squirrels, turkeys , wood rats. burros , horses eaten in emergencies. minks, weasels, wildcats , wolves not eaten hunted body parts.

the main food of lipan buffalo three-week hunt during fall , smaller scale hunts continuing until spring. second utilized animal deer. fresh deer blood drunk health. other animals included beavers, bighorns, black bears, burros, ducks, elk, fish, horses, mountain lions, mourning doves, mules, prairie dogs, pronghorns, quail, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, turtles , wood rats. skunks eaten in emergencies.

plains apache hunters pursued buffalo , deer. other hunted animals badgers, bears, beavers, fowls, geese, opossums, otters, rabbits , turtles.