The Apaches, a tribe of Athapascan stock, have thier home in New Mexico and Arizona. They're related to Navajos and speak a similar tongue. The name "Apache" is a Yuma Indian word meaning "fighting men", and was probably given to the Apaches by neighboring tribes of Yuman stock. Their symbol is a dancer in a ceremonial dress, and wear'sa symbolic haed-dress, and a black mask of buckskin. THE APACHE PAST The Apaches were hunter, farmers and seed gatherers. They knew every land feature in the plains. Apache women built irrigation ditches and planted corn. The crops were not very good, so hunters searched the land for deers, gophers, wild turkeys and lizards. The women gathered cactus fruit and acorns. The Apache loved raiding and warfare, and boys were trained for warfare since they were born. They could walk for miles without any food or water . They learned to hunt, stand guard, keep silent,and send and read smoke signals. When the boys were 15 years old they were ready to go to war. Young girls were trained by their mothers to do the household chores. The girls married very young. The daughters husband was not aloud to talk or see their mother-in-law. The Apache Indians were fierce warriors who liked raids.