Tuesday 22 February 2011

Apache's Cultural Business.

The tribe that I looked at was the Yavapai-Apache nation. They are a federally recognized sovereign nation, in which the people are descendants of the Wipukyipai (Yavapai) and Dil zhéé (Tonto Apache). The reservations that they live in currently are, Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Middle Verde and Rimrock which encompasses more than 1,600 acres throughout the Verde Valley. The website I looked at is located here.

The website I'm looking at doesn't really have a history tab, that you can look at or browse. But it does have an Our Culture tab, which on looking, does inform you of the culture of the two tribes that merged into the one we see now. It says that both tribes share a history, but even today have different cultures and separate histories/identities. It then goes onto to section the two main cultures/histories separately, with the Apache's being listed first.
It carries a mission statement, which says:
The Yavapai-Apache Nation’s Sovereignty is dependent on its cultural, religious, governmental, judicial systems and the practice of it’s own way of life-- independent of the greater American society. This uniqueness has to be preserved, recorded, taught, and supported by the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s government. Dilzi'e'e Culture Department is dedicated to preserve and continue this way of life that God instructed our People to live.

From what I can gather from this website, there seems to be some sort of field trips organised by Apache tribes people for younger generations or visitors, which goes to areas of importance and cultural significance. It also details that the clans people hold meetings where they discuss on how to keep their culture and history relevant to issues today.

The other tribe's section, also has a mission statement similar to the first. It says:
The mission of the Yavapai Culture Department is to create and tailor a research core for community access to acquire the Yavapai language for future generations to have preservation of language and sovereignty.The program involves those responsive to the stewardship of the Yavapai cultural heritage, the restoration of traditional arts, history, song, and stories of the Nya vabeh, and consultation and protection of the sacred lands and cultural property.

It then goes onto say how currently they are trying to keep their history/culture around, all the whilst teaching younger generations of the certain tribal ways.

What interests me greatly though is the Tribal Enterprises as it is stated on the website, which actually shows the Business enterprises that the Apache are into or part of. They are part of quite a wide arrange of businesses from Casino's, RV parks, Construction, Convenience Store and a Development & Financial institution. It seems that the Apache are not only keeping alive their traditions and history through field trips and cultural meetings of the elders, they are also establishing themselves businesses to make money to fund activities or whatever else to keep their history alive and their traditions.

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