Apache Jii ("Day") is a celebration of our Native American neighbors, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, held in downtown Globe each October. The San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1,834,781 acres, making it the 4th largest reservation in Arizona. It was originally much larger, but, over the earlier years, the government took 2/3 of the land, including what is now the city of Globe (when rich silver deposits were discovered there,) away from the tribal people. About 10,000 Apache now live on the reservation. It was established in 1871 by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant, and, in 1876, all Apache from various tribes west of the Rio Grande, as well as some Yuma and Mohave peoples, were relocated to the reservation. Geronimo (whose Apache name was Goyathlay,) a Chiricahua Apache, was among the Apache ordered to remain on the San Carlos reservation, and it's from there that he and his followers escaped, starting one of the biggest "manhunts" in the history of U.S./tribal relations. He lead the last group of tribal fighters to formally surrender to the U.S. Army. Today, he is a hero to many Apache and other tribal peoples (as well as some of us Anglos who appreciate his desire to be the free man he knew himself to be.)

Today, the San Carlos Apache try to keep the spirit and culture of their ancestors alive. Apache Jii is an opportunity to share that with others outside the San Carlos Apache Community.

If you'd like to read and learn more about the San Carlos Apache, please visit the Apache links on our Arizona Links page.

"Princesses" representing the San Carlos Apache and other tribes wait to be interviewed by the festival's emcee. They are wearing fancy-dress versions of the Apache woman's "camp dress" with elaborately beaded decoration and crowns.	Among the day's highlights are performances by the Apache Crown Dancers. Above you may view a short "movie" of scenes from Jii Day '05, featuring the Crown Dancers. The Crown Dancers are the Ga'an or "mountain spirits." Usen, the Creator, sent the Ga'an to the Apache to teach them to live in harmony. The Ga'an also taught the Apache sacred dances that heal and bless. There are five dancers; four represent the four directions and the fifth is the Clown who protects the others by driving away evil spirits with the sound of his humming bull-roarer. Their crowns are eagle's feathers, and the lightning painted on their bodies is a powerful Apache symbol. Crown Dancers play an important part in Apache ceremonies like the Sunrise Ceremony held when a girl becomes a woman.
Tribal artisans demonstrate their talents in traditional arts such as weaving burden baskets, like the woman below. There are also many vendors from throughout the Southwest who sell jewelry and other handicrafts like carvings, sand paintings, and kachinas. Traditional foods such as fry bread and acorn stew are available, as well as "Indian tacos" and "Apache burgers," which are served on fry bread.
Students from schools in San Carlos also demonstrate the Crown Dance. These dancers are from San Carlos Intermediate School (Grades 3-5)
Evalena Henry is a master basket weaver from the San Carlos tribe. She was honored in 2001 with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. These Fellowships, according to the NEA web site, "recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage." She was also featured at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Ms Henry is indeed a "living legend," and we were priveleged to watch her working on a burden basket at the 2006 Apache Jii. To watch Ms Henry at work, view the very short video on the right:
Tara Lynn Kitcheyan, the reigning Miss San Carlos Apache, entertained at Apache Jii '06 with Apache songs and legends. (Miss Kitcheyan was also chosen as Second Attendant at the Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program's pageant early in October 2006. Congratulations, Tara!) To hear her sing an Apache prayer song, click "PLAY" on this player:	John Sneezy is a San Carlos Apache singer/songwriter who also performs the hoop dance. Below is a video of John singing an original composition and a lullabye he learned from Ulali, a group from North Carolina, and performing a hoop dance to non-native music at the 2006 Apache Jii. If you've never seen a hoop dance, the hoops represent the neverending circle of life. The dancer starts with one hoop, then adds more and more as he or she dances, all the while keeping the beat. The dancer uses the hoops to form geometric shapes that represent nature: the sun, flowers, an eagle's wings... for, like the hoops, all things are connected. See how many you can identify while John dances. At powwows, the hoop dance is usually an exhibition piece, but there are also competitions. The Heard Museum in Phoenix, reknown for its collection of Native American artifacts, hosts the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest which attracts dancers from throughout the U.S. and Canada.