In addition to the well-known Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, there are
four other areas of Indian lands. Three of these belong to peoples of
Athapascan origin, sometimes better known as Apache Indians. By name,
they are the Jicarilla Apache, the Mescalero Apache, and Navajo. The
fourth group is the Ute Indian.
The Apache tribes were relative newcomers to the Southwest. Their origin
was the plains area between the northern Rocky Mountains and Hudson Bay
in Canada. About 1000 A.D., a part of these northern Plains Indians
began a migration that ultimately brought them to New Mexico. Down the
High Plains across the western Dakotas, western Nebraska, Kansas, and
finally to western Texas and eastern New Mexico, these people came. At
about the latitude of Albuquerque, the migration split. Part of the
group continued south, across the Staked Plains, into southeastern New
Mexico, west Texas, and northern Coahuila and Chihuahua, Mexico. Here
they divided into the Lipan, the Mescalero, and the Natage Apache.
Today, in south-central New Mexico are the descendants of the Mescalero.
The Mescalero Apache reservation is crossed by U.S. Highway 70, a scenic
drive through pine forests. The tribe operates the Sierra Blanca ski
area, one of the southernmost ski areas in the United States. Its annual
Crown Dance and coming-of-age ceremonials are held July 1 to 4, followed
by an Apache rodeo. The Lipan and the Natage have virtually disappeared.
The second group of the migration discovered for the first time in their
long trek down the eastern fringes of the Rockies that the country
opened up to the west. They poured through the passes and entered the
areas traditionally controlled by pueblo farmers. Gradually, they took
over these lands for themselves, driving out the farmers. By the time
the Spanish came on the scene, most of the peaceful farmers had given
way before the onslaught of the warlike Athapascan savages. Only one
group remained, the pueblos of the central Rio Grande Valley. The
migration that moved into the desert and mountain lands divided into a
number of groups which are known by modern names: the Chiricahua, White
Mountain, Western, and Jicarilla Apache and the Navajo. The Jicarilla
Apache reside mainly in north-central New Mexico on reservation lands,
and the Navajo reservation lies partly in extreme northwestern New
Mexico. Most of the Navajo land and all the lands of the others are in
Arizona.
The Ute Indians, driven from the plains by stronger tribes, settled in
the central Rocky Mountain area. There they raided the wealthy (at least
in their eyes) pueblos to the south. They fought sporadically against
white penetration but were finally subdued and placed on reservation
lands in the Four Corners area, part of which lies in New Mexico.
While the history of these peoples is fascinating and full of romance,
there is little besides scenery to be seen when visiting their
reservations. The populations are often scattered over many hundreds of
square miles, and the people have only rudimentary handicrafts. The
exception is the Navajo, and a trip to the Navajo reservation is
worthwhile. These Indians have developed techniques of weaving and
silversmithing that contribute significant art forms to Southwest
handicrafts.
The outstanding Indian event of the year in New Mexico is the
Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Gallup, held during mid-August. Some
thirty tribes from the Southwest and Midwest meet to compete in arts,
crafts, and ceremonial dancing.