View source for Fort Apache Indian Reservation

{{Short description|Native American nation in Arizona}}
{{infobox ethnic group
| group            = White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation
| native_name      = {{native name|apw|Dził Łigai Si'án N'dee}}
| flag             = 
| flag_caption     = Seal of the White Mountain Apache tribe
| image            = 1140R Fort Apache Reservation Locator Map.svg
| image_caption    = Location of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
| population       = 12,429
| popplace         = {{flag|United States}} ({{Flag|Arizona}})
| langs            = [[Western Apache language|Western Apache]], [[English language|English]]
| rels             = [[Christianity]] (especially [[Catholicism]] and [[Lutheranism]]), [[White Mountain Apache Culture]]
| related          = [[Western Apache]], [[San Carlos Apache]], [[Navajo people|Navajo]]
}}

The '''Fort Apache Indian Reservation''' is an [[Indian reservation]] in [[Arizona]], United States, encompassing parts of [[Navajo County, Arizona|Navajo]], [[Gila County, Arizona|Gila]], and [[Apache County, Arizona|Apache]] counties. It is home to the federally recognized '''White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation''' ([[Western Apache language]]: '''Dził Łigai Si'án N'dee'''), a [[Western Apache]] tribe. It has a land area of 1.6 million acres and a population of 12,429 people as of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]].<ref name="Census">[https://www.census.gov Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona], United States Census Bureau</ref> The largest community is in [[Whiteriver, Arizona|Whiteriver]].

== History ==
{{further|Western Apache people|Apacheria}}
Apache is a colonial classification term for the White Mountain Apache and all other Apache peoples. The White Mountain Apache consisted of three major groups that were made up of sub-groups called bands and [[clans]], within which were families. There were clan rules controlling marriages between persons of families in different clans.

The largest of these three groups were collectively known as "On Top of Mountains People", the second major group was known as "Many Go to War People", and the last was known as "At the Base of the Mountains People". These names in indigenous White Mountain Apache dialect predate relations with the United States. Some contemporary White Mountain Apache have urged the adoption and use of these terms for the three major groups.

[[File:Western Indian Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|The [[U.S. Army]] / [[U.S. Cavalry]] post of  [[Ft. Apache]] was located midway along and just west of the [[Arizona Territory]]'s eastern border (north/south line)  with the adjacent [[New Mexico Territory]] to the east after the splitting / separation in 1863 of Arizona from the larger New Mexico, established 1850.]]

The [[United States Army]]'s [[U.S. Cavalry]] military post of [[Fort Apache, Arizona|Fort Apache]], now the [[Fort Apache Historic Park]], originally called Camp Apache, was established by the  Army in 1870 at the suggestion of the White Mountain Apache leadership. They knew that the neighboring [[Navajo]] were resisting [[U.S. federal government]] supervision. After warfare, the U.S. forced the Navajo and [[Mescalero Apache]] on the [[Long Walk of the Navajo|Long March]] to relocate to [[Fort Sumner]] further east in the [[New Mexico Territory]] in 1863–1864, where they were held nearby at [[Bosque Redondo]] for years. They were finally allowed to return to their southwestern  homeland in 1868.

In 1871 General [[George Crook]] enrolled 50 White Mountain Apache men to serve as [[Apache scouts|scouts]] for his army during the [[Apache Wars]], which lasted intermittently for 15 years. These wars ended with the surrender of [[Chiricahua]] leader [[Geronimo]] in 1886. Because of the scouts' service to General Crook during the Apache Wars, he worked to enable the White Mountain Apache tribe to keep a large portion of their homeland as their reservation (named for them).

Four decades later in 1922, four years after the end of the [[World War I|First World War]] (1914/1917-1918), the [[United States Army]] left Fort Apache, which was surrounded by the reservation. It was transferred to the jurisdiction of the civilian [[United States Department of the Interior]]'s [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] in 1923 for further use. The BIA established an [[American Indian boarding schools|Indian Boarding School]] here in order to continue to make further 
use of these facilities. It was named after 26th [[President of the United States|President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (1858-1919, served 1901-1909).<ref>For a full history of the school and description as of 1970, see online / internet website: http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/ref/collection/feddocs/id/1573</ref>

The school was designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2012, as a contributing part of [[Fort Apache Historic Park]]. The entire former military complex was recognized, as well as the role of the school in tribal assimilation.

The White Mountain Apache now operate the [[Roosevelt Indian School]] as a tribally controlled middle-school facility.<ref>[http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2012/03/fort-apache-earns-historic-designation-for-role-in-tribal-assimilation/ "Fort Apache Earns Historic Designation for Role in Tribal Assimilation"], Cronkite News online, March 2012</ref> They have a contractual arrangement with the Bureau of Indian Education, which funds the school.

==Government==
The White Mountain Apache created their own constitution under the [[Indian Reorganization Act]] of 1934. In 1936 they elected a tribal council that governs the tribe and reservation. It oversees all tribe-owned property, local businesses, and governance.

==Geography==
The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is covered mostly by pine forests and is habitat to a variety of forest wildlife. It is located directly south of the [[Mogollon Rim]]. The highest point in the reservation is [[Mount Baldy (Arizona)|Baldy Peak]], with an elevation of {{convert|11,403|ft|m}}.

==Economy==
[[File:Fort Apache Indian Reservation entrance.JPG|thumb|The Fort Apache Indian Reservation, south of [[Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona]]]]
The tribe operates the [[Sunrise Park Resort|Sunrise ski resort]] and the Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Conference Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hon-dah.com/|title=Home|website=Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Conference Center}}</ref> It has built the Apache Cultural Center & Museum, constructed in the traditional style of a ''gowa.''

Other attractions within the reservation include the Fort Apache Historic Park, which has 27 buildings surviving of the historic fort and a {{convert|288|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[National Historic Landmark District|National Historic District]]; and other historic sites.

[[Kinishba Ruins]], an ancient [[archeological]] site ({{CE|1150–1350}}) of the western [[Pueblo]] culture, is a [[National Historic Landmark]]. It is located on nearby associated tribal trust lands. Appointments may be made to visit the site.

==Demographics==
According to the US Census Bureau, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, which is located in Navajo County, is developed with small communities. North Fork, Whiteriver, Fort Apache, East Fork, Rainbow City, Cibecue, Hon-Dah, McNary, Turkey Creek, and Seven Mile are the communities, comprising a total population of 22,036 in 2010 on the reservation.<ref name=census2010>https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-4.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The White Mountain Apache Tribe operates the Fort Apache Connection Transit, which provides local bus service.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Tribal Transportation| work = WMAT DOT| access-date = 2020-02-03| url = https://www.wmatdot.com}}</ref> The [[Show Low, Arizona|City of Show Low]] operates the Four Seasons Connection, which provides service from the [[Hondah, Arizona|Hondah]] Casino to Show Low and [[Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona|Pinetop-Lakeside]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = White Mountain Connection| website = Show Low, AZ - Official Website| access-date = 2020-01-22| url = https://showlowaz.gov/271/White-Mountain-Connection| archive-date = 2020-02-03| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200203015404/https://showlowaz.gov/271/White-Mountain-Connection| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:A collection of Apache Indian baskets (ollas) on display, ca.1900 (CHS-3555).jpg|thumb|A collection of handwoven Apache Indian baskets, displayed about 1900]]
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Canyon Day, Arizona|Canyon Day]]
* [[Carrizo, Arizona|Carrizo]]
* [[Cedar Creek, Arizona|Cedar Creek]]
* [[Cibecue, Arizona|Cibecue]]
* [[East Fork, Arizona|East Fork]]
* [[Fort Apache, Arizona|Fort Apache]]
* [[Hondah, Arizona|Hondah]]
* [[McNary, Arizona|McNary]]
* [[North Fork, Arizona|North Fork]]
* [[Rainbow City, Arizona|Rainbow City]]
* [[Seven Mile, Arizona|Seven Mile]]
* [[Turkey Creek, Arizona|Turkey Creek]]
* [[Whiteriver, Arizona|Whiteriver]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
{{expand section|date=January 2022}}
[[Young Elementary School District]] included sections of the reservation. In 1984 the Young district contracted with [[Whiteriver Unified School District]] to educate the Fort Apache students, numbering about 200, due to roads being inaccessible between Fort Apache and Young.<ref name=Shafferleaping>{{cite news|last=Shaffer|first=Mark|title=Rural schools leaping at 4-day week|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]|place=[[Phoenix, Arizona]]|date=1984-06-17|pages=B1, B10}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93848345/for-wikieup-school/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93848457/ of second page] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> {{As of|2020}} these parts of the reservation are now directly in Whiteriver USD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st04_az/schooldistrict_maps/c04007_gila/DC20SD_C04007.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gila County, AZ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-01-30}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Dustinn Craig]] (White Mountain Apache/[[Diné]]), filmmaker and skateboarder<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campagna |first1=Jeff |title="Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America" Opens Friday |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ramp-it-up-skateboard-culture-in-native-america-opens-friday-8959696/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Smithsonian Magazine |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |date=11 June 2009}}</ref>
* [[Emmet Crawford]] (1844-1886), military commander

==See also==
{{Portal|Arizona}}
* [[Apache]]
* [[Art of the American Southwest]]
* [[Battle of Cibecue Creek]]
* [[Battle of Fort Apache]]
* [[Rattlesnake Fire (2018)]]

==References==
* [https://www.census.gov Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona] United States Census Bureau
* {{cite book|last1=Goddard|first1=Pliny Earle|author-link=Pliny Earle Goddard|title=White Mountain Apache texts|url=https://archive.org/details/whitemountainap00goddgoog|access-date=24 August 2012|year=1920|publisher=The Trustees}}
* Goodwin, Grenville (1994). ''Myths and Tales of the White Mountain Apache''. University of Arizona Press {{ISBN?}}

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fort Apache Indian Reservation}}
* {{official website|http://www.wmat.nsn.us/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110125234215/http://fortapachearizona.org/photogallery Fort Apache Heritage Foundation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927131821/http://www.itcaonline.com/tribes_whitemtn.html White Mountain Apache Tribe], Arizona Intertribal Council
* {{GNIS|47541|Fort Apache Reservation (Gila County)}}

{{Indian reservations in Arizona}}
{{Apache people}}
{{Apache County, Arizona}}
{{Gila County, Arizona}}
{{Navajo County, Arizona}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|33|55|42|N|110|07|58|W|scale:1000000|display=title}}<!-- source:GNIS -->

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fort Apache Indian Reservation}}
[[Category:American Indian reservations in Arizona]]
[[Category:Geography of Apache County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Geography of Gila County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Geography of Navajo County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Federally recognized tribes in the United States]]
[[Category:Apache tribes]]
[[Category:Mogollon Rim]]
[[Category:White Mountain Apache Tribe| ]]