The Apache

They baked, boiled, roasted, or ate their meat raw. Sometimes they would leave it out in the sun so that it would dry up and become "jerky-. Not only would the Apache eat the meat from the animals they killed, they would skin them and use the hide for bags, moccasins, robes, and more. The women usually made items such as blankets and scarves whereas the men who hunted made shields, lariats, and cords. They were very resourceful with their surroundings and belongings; however, if they became too desperate for necessities the warriors would raid other tribes.
             The Apache raided mainly to steal food, but they also took weapons, supplies, and sometimes children. They kidnapped the children to raise them as Apache Indians since their tribe was quite small with only around five thousand people. The raids were led by the dominant male of each group. This was decided when the head male of each extended family of the group would form an inner circle along with other men of honor. (He who had married the most women was deemed a "man of honor-.) These inner circles would get together from each band to decide on a band leader; these were the men who led raids and planned for war. Some well-known Apache leaders were: Mangas Coloradas, Cochise, Geronimo, and Victorio. Although the Apache did not respect other tribes, they were peaceful with each other.
             Immediate family lived close by and helped the others in time of need or stress. Even though each band had their own methods for doing things, they all had the same family traditions. Marriages were set up by the families. The couple would live where the wife's family stayed because the Apaches are matrilineal, meaning they traced there family through mothers. It was the husband's job to provide food for his new family. The relationship between the husband and the wife's family would continue even if the wife died. However, the wife could divorce her husband for a legitimate reason, or her family could separate them.