Tonto Apache

The Tonto Apache ( ) is a band of Western Apache people in Arizona. The term "Tonto" is also used for their dialect, one of the three dialects of the Western Apache language, a member of Southern Athabaskan language family. Today, Tonto Apache people are enrolled in several federally recognized tribes in Arizona. These include: * Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation * San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation * Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona * White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation * Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation.

The Tonto Apache ( ) is a band of Western Apache people in Arizona. The term "Tonto" is also used for their dialect, one of the three dialects of the Western Apache language, a member of Southern Athabaskan language family. Today, Tonto Apache people are enrolled in several federally recognized tribes in Arizona. These include: Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation.

History

Reservation life

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Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Reservation

After being relocated to the Camp Verde Reservation, on the Verde River near Camp Verde, the Yavapai and Tonto Apache began to construct irrigation systems (including a five-mile (8 km) long ditch). These functioned well enough for them to reap sufficient harvests, making the tribe relatively self-sufficient. But, contractors who worked with the United States government to supply the reservations were disappointed, and petitioned to have the reservation revoked. The government complied, and in March 1875, the government closed the reservation. They forced the residents to travel by foot in winter to the San Carlos Reservation. More than 100 Yavapai died during the winter trek. By the early 20th century, many Yavapai moved away from the San Carlos Reservation. They requested permission to live on the grounds of the original Camp Verde Reservation. In 1910, the US government set aside as the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, and in the following decade added in two parcels, which became the Middle Verde Indian Reservation. These two reservations were combined in 1937, and the people formed the federally recognized Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache Nation. Today, the reservation spans , in four separate locales. Tourism contributes greatly to the economy of the tribe. Their reservation has many significant historic sites which have been preserved, including the Montezuma Castle National Monument. The Yavapai-Apache Nation is the amalgamation of two historically distinct tribal people; the Yavepe (Central Yavapai), Wipukepa (Wipukapaya) (Northeastern Yavapai) and Kewevkapaya (Southeastern Yavapai) People and the Tonto Apache (Dilzhe’e Apache), each of whom occupied the Upper Verde prior to European invasion. The Tonto Apache, calling themselves Dilzhe'e, utilized the lands to the north, east and south; while the various Yavapai bands were using country to the north, the west and the south. They overlapped in the Upper Verde.

Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is located within Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 20 miles from Phoenix. The reservation was authorized by President Theodore Roosevelt from the former Fort McDowell in 1903. By 1910, the Office of Indian Affairs was trying to relocate its residents to open up the area for development and enable other interests to use its water rights. A delegation of Yavapai testified to a Congressional Committee against this action, and won. Today, the tribal community consists of 900 members¹, 600 of whom live on the reservation. The Guwevka'ba:ya or Southeastern Yavapai on Fort McDowell Reservation call themselves Aba:ja (″The People"). The population of Fort McDowell consists mostly of the Guwevka'ba:ya Yavapai as well as other Yavapai groups.

External links

National Park Service Tonto Apache Tribe, Arizona Intertribal Council Mazatzal Hotel & Casino - Tonto Apache Tribe Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation website

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1375552703 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.