Conflict with Mexico and the United States Apache

in general, arrived spanish colonists, settled in villages, , apache bands developed pattern of interaction on few centuries. both raided , traded each other. records of period seem indicate relationships depended upon specific villages , specific bands involved each other. example, 1 band might friends 1 village , raid another. when war happened between two, spanish send troops, after battle both sides sign treaty, , both sides go home.

the traditional , treacherous relationships continued between villages , bands independence of mexico in 1821. 1835 mexico had placed bounty on apache scalps (see scalping) villages still trading bands. when juan josé compà, leader of copper mines mimbreño apaches, killed bounty money in 1837, mangas coloradas (red sleeves) or dasoda-hae (he sits there) became principal chief , war leader; in same 1837 soldado fiero (aka fuerte), leader of warm springs mimbreño apaches, killed mexican soldiers near janos, , son cuchillo negro (black knife) became principal chief , war leader. (being mangas coloradas first chief , cuchillo negro second chief of whole tchihende or mimbreño people) conducted series of retaliatory raids against mexicans. 1856, authorities in horse-rich durango claim indian raids (mostly comanche , apache) in state had taken 6,000 lives, abducted 748 people, , forced abandonment of 358 settlements on previous 20 years.

geronimo

when united states went war against mexico in 1846, many apache bands promised u.s. soldiers safe passage through lands. when u.s. claimed former territories of mexico in 1846, mangas coloradas signed peace treaty nation, respecting them conquerors of mexicans land. uneasy peace between apache , new citizens of united states held until 1850s. influx of gold miners santa rita mountains led conflict apache. period called apache wars.

united states concept of reservation had not been used spanish, mexicans or other apache neighbors before. reservations badly managed, , bands had no kinship relationships forced live together. no fences existed keep people in or out. not uncommon band given permission leave short period of time. other times band leave without permission, raid, return homeland forage, or away. military had forts nearby. job keeping various bands on reservations finding , returning left. reservation policies of united states produced conflict , war various apache bands left reservations quarter century.

warfare between apache peoples , euro-americans has led stereotypical focus on aspects of apache cultures. these have been distorted through misunderstanding of cultures, noted anthropologist keith basso:

of hundreds of peoples lived , flourished in native north america, few have been consistently misrepresented apacheans of arizona , new mexico. glorified novelists, sensationalized historians, , distorted beyond credulity commercial film makers, popular image of apache — brutish, terrifying semi-human bent upon wanton death , destruction — entirely product of irresponsible caricature , exaggeration. indeed, there can little doubt apache has been transformed native american american legend, fanciful , fallacious creation of non-indian citizenry inability recognize massive treachery of ethnic , cultural stereotypes has been matched willingness sustain , inflate them.