No.^T&r' ^^^' ^^^'^ ^^ CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 121 



to its belief in the native religion. A few individuals have joined the 

 church but it is significant that these "converts" attend Apache 

 ceremonies as regularly as prayer meetings. 



Today's young people have mixed feelings. Some scoflF openly at 

 what they call the "stupid" religious beliefs of their elders; practically 

 none embrace White rehgion. More aware than their parents of the 

 benefits of White medical techniques, the young people rarely rely 

 on native medicine men, who heal the sick by supernatural means. 



CIBECUE 



The community of Cibecue is located near the center of the Fort 

 Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona (map 1). It is a small 

 settlement of nearly 700 inhabitants whose dwellings are scattered 

 on both sides of Cibecue Creek, a narrow stream originating in 

 mountains to the north. The soil is red and not particularly fertile. 

 Vegetation consists mostly of juniper, pinon, and ponderosa pine in 

 the higher areas, and cottonwood along the creeks. 



Not a great deal is known about the early history of the Cibecue 

 Apache. Their first unwarlike relations with the Whites came in 

 1859, when they traveled to Camp Grant on the San Pedro River to 

 draw rations. In 1875, the majority were forced to move south to 

 San Carlos. Three years later, they returned to their homeland and, 

 in 1881, engaged in the historic Cibecue Massacre during which a 

 number of troops belonging to a regiment of the United States Sixth 

 Cavalry under the command of General Crook were killed while 

 attempting to arrest an Apache medicine man. As far as I have 

 been able to detennine, this encounter ended hostilities with the 

 miHtary. 



A large number of Apaches now regard Cibecue as the most old- 

 fashioned settlement on the reservation. The arguments used to 

 support this opinion usually include one or more of the following: 



1. A majority of the people at Cibecue still live in old-style grass wickiups. 

 Comparatively few have built cabins. 



2. Cibecue has more medicine men presently active than any other community. 



3. More ceremonies are held in Cibecue than anywhere else. 



Cibecue's conservatism would seem to be directly related to its 

 geographical isolation. The nearest White town. Show Low, Ariz., 

 is nearly 50 miles away. Few Indians have reason to travel there, 

 and, as a result, Cibecue people rarely come into prolonged contact 

 with White society. Two years ago, I drove a 10-year-old boy to 

 Show Low; it was only the second time he had been there. 



