Abstract
This paper examines the history and folklore behind the creation story of the Chiricahua Apache. The creation story is presented to the reader, and is referenced throughout the paper. The history of the Apache is discussed, including where and how they lived, their connection to the land and how the creation story would influence their day-to-day decisions. According to this paper, their religion was central to all aspects of their lives, their behavior and means of survival. Their interaction with the white population, whether violent, or friendly, can all be traced back to their belief in their own creation story.

From the Paper
"By the beginning of the 17th century the Chiricahua Apache had achieved, from what can be determined from the archaeological record, a relatively settled way of life. They grew corn as well as other crops such as beans although there were certainly still semi-nomadic groups. Their joint dependence on agriculture and nomadic food collection and herding may have been due to the sporadic nature of rainfall in the Southwest. Nomadicism is a rational response during a year in which there is not enough rainfall."

Tags:ritual, kamalapukwia, sakarakaamche, amjakupooka, water, ancestors, land