The Moccasin Telegraph
Edition 1
March, 2026
By ŁII HUTAS
Chiricahua Apache Nation
Welcome to our first edition!
You may have noticed the new banners that are up on Bullard Street that feature historic images of our Chiricahua Apache ancestors and our Foundation's seal. We hope you are enjoying this art installation by Chiricahua Apache Nation Artist Delia deVer. The banners celebrate and acknowledge this important part of our region's history, culture, and the descendants, who still live here with others being called to return, and many living across the continent and world as a diaspora.
We're happy to share the news that the images on the banners will be included in a new mural coming to town! Thanks to a 30something grant from this local philanthropist group, our community will have a stunning mural that honors our ancestors with symbolic elements representing their forced removal and the fleeing of those never captured. The mural includes the map of our greater Traditional Territory "Nde benah". You may have seen the map around town. It's on display and available for purchase at Light Art Space gallery. The YCC Youth mural team, through Diana Ingalls Leyba's program, is also working on parts of the mural. We've had a great time meeting with them and exchanging ideas with the talented crew. Look for the installation to start in April on the Yankie street wall at Century 21/ Hacienda Realty. We are grateful for their support as hosts of the mural.
Thanks to all who visited the recent exhibit at the Murrey Ryan Visitors Center and Marcia Tinker for organizing it. We appreciate the Center's staff who made the exhibit possible, along with the Main Street banners. The Visitor Center is flying our Chiricahua Apache Nation flag on their flagpole. This is historic.
We presented two cultural events at the Hub in February and March with our local Chiricahua Apache drummers, a Native Flute player, and a Storyteller. It is important to appreciate that these Tribal members offer this on our Tribal Lands. It is customary for any visiting Tribes on another Tribes Lands, have communication with the resident Tribe before offering their own cultural traditions as guests. Other Native groups should show this respect if coming to our region, as we would do when on their Traditional Lands.
We are part of a current major exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces that features the Tribes of our Southern New Mexico region. The curators of the exhibit were intentional in only featuring the Tribes and Chiricahua Apache Bands based in New Mexico. At the end of the year, starting in November and running through January, we will have a 3-month exhibit in the rotating exhibit space where we'll be featured, along with the ongoing group exhibit we're part of. We'll share information about our opening event for our rotation when it gets closer and invite you to join us for our exhibit opening. It would be inspiring to have people from Silver City and Grant County share in this and show support.
You may have heard that the Red Paint Powwow isn't happening in 2026. Due to the City's financial issues, they dropped their agreement to fund the seed money for the remaining 2 years as promised. We're optimistic that the new City leadership will be able to renew their commitment to the upcoming Powwow. We are working on the Powwow's return for January 2027. Any support you would like to offer is helpful in bringing this special Native cultural event to our community.
Conveniently, the banners on Bullard St. have QR codes that will take you to our donation page. Should you prefer to make a donation from our website, go to www.chiricahuaapachenation.org or mail a check to our address listed there. The Chiricahua Apache National Foundation is a 501c3. Of course, we are grateful for any amount donated and also celebrate sustaining support that can be made on a monthly basis through our Chiricahua Apache National Foundation Zeffy account.
We are in need of a temporary office space in town to support our Foundation's projects, our Nation, and plans for bringing a Headquarters and Chiricahua Apache Cultural Center to Silver City. We're also in need of rural land nearby with acreage where we can gather for ceremonies and be in relationship with our Sacred Lands. We are looking to create a retreat site for descendants, a gathering place for Citizens and Friends, along with a site for offering educational programs and Native-led eco-tourism experiences. We have a Landback movement underway with a number of sites already returned by individuals called to do that.
As many locals and environmental groups have increasing concerns about our region's environmental protections towards land, water, and Wild places, we naturally are too. Our Ancestors lived in Peace and Harmony here since time immemorial. Our ancient and ongoing tradition regards these lands as Sacred and irreplaceable. Our Lifeways are based on caring for Nigodzani, Earth, and our Plant and Animal relatives. It's a good time to join forces with others and organizations to protect and steward it once and for all. Please reach out to us to join forces as an individual or group.
Like other ethnic and cultural groups, there is more than one Chiricahua Apache group who are organized as a Tribe, Sovereign Nation, or Native organization. You may be familiar with them, and if not, we're happy to share the reasons for it. We think it's important for our local community and governments, local, state, and Federal, to understand the differences and support the diversity of our Tribe rather than being exclusive based on historic trauma and exploitations of one imprisoned group to acquire the Gila and these other National Forests- Apache, Coronado, and Cibola.
Although it can be confusing, like many family complexities with the addition of varying governmental and business interests on and under the land, we trust that the dynamics and dysfunction can be grasped. It's important to discern the differences between the out-of-town Chiricahua groups with different agendas than ours. We are looking at business models around preservation, sustainability, and eco-tourism, and not Casino business models, as the non-New Mexico Chiricahua group has pursued to build south of us.
The Chiricahua Apache Nation is locally headquartered in Arenas Valley, Silver City, and Grant County. In fact, we received proclamations from the City and County in 2023 stating that the Chiricahua Apache Nation is acknowledged as the original Tribe of our region since time immemorial. Our Citizens are descendants of the great Leaders and People of the Nde/Chiricahua Apache. Our Nation Citizens are primarily the descendants of the people who scattered and hid, evading or imprisoned, forced into servitude, enslaved or exiled. captured by the U.S. Government and imprisoned in Oklahoma as prisoners of war, ironically. Yes, many of our ancestors were put in prison, the same as foreign military soldiers captured and imprisoned as prisoners of the United States.
We are a diaspora, although many families in Grant County hold this ancestry still. They found ways to survive in place, setting their traditions aside, joining other ethnic and cultural folks to stay alive. Different cultural and religious traditions were taken on as Chiricahua started blended families. We invite those with Chiricahua ancestry to contact us to learn more about these aspects of your heritage. Although we are based on and share traditional Chiricahua Apache culture and Lifeways, It is not necessary to give up any other traditions you embrace to learn about our culture.
We have been called to return to these lands. A People of Peace and Harmony, we had lived here peacefully and in environmental balance until the arrival of, settlers, miners, immigrants, and the U.S. military, who saw the value of these lands. We were a barrier. The Chiricahua had to develop new skills and became fierce warriors to rightfully protect and remain in our Sacred Lands. That time period of the War, is what many people know us for, but that is a limited way to know us based on the cruel times of the waring 19th century, when we fought the genocide. Eventually, many had to run to evade capture, while Geronimo's group was taken upon their final surrender. They were exiled and imprisoned from 1886 to 1913. Upon their eventual release, a smaller group chose to stay in Oklahoma. The U.S. Government later fraudulently gave this group money in exchange for acquiring our Traditional Country. The deal, against our Lifeways, included "Federal recognition" of that one group, excluding all other groups.
It is unjust that the Federal Government and the State, too have this cultural discretion. We regard this as a human rights issue. Our standing Peace Treaty (see the Santa Fe Treaty of 1852) has not been acknowledged or complied with. The Chiricahua Apache who remained free did not sell Nde benah to the U.S.. It is unconscionable to sell this Sacred Land that we originate from. It is who we are. Selling this Land is not part of our Lifeways. The Lakota understand this with their Black Hills Paha Sapa.
Many ancestors left Fort Sill, OK, upon their release from prison, and joined the Mescalero Tribe, although their reservation is not within our Traditional Territory. The Mescalero Tribe has been significant in helping to preserve much of our Culture. We have relatives still there.
With the Elders' permission, we've been working tirelessly to educate people about our correct history and the reasons for these fissures within the overall Chiricahua people, as well as within the U.S., State, and Local Governments and Officials. We, as the Chiricahua Apache Nation, are focused on preserving our sacred lands and culture. We do this as directed by our Elders and Ancestors on behalf of generations to come. No single person within our Chiricahua Apache Nation is doing this for themselves. Historical, cultural trauma is certainly held in our being. Our motivation is to reestablish Tribal relationships and environmental and economic viability with the best of intentions and commitment. The wisdom of Nde Lifeways, our surrounding region, and the Northern Stronghold guide us.
There are many growing examples of Tribes having land returned to them or in partnerships where environments are drastically improved towards health and sustainability. We invite others to join us as we continue our steady efforts to develop and strengthen relationships with the community, organization, and our governments to be part of something new that more fully embraces the rich native culture we offer for a more diverse and restorative path forward that's good for our economy and community.
If you would like to join our "Friends of the Chiricahua Apache Nation," please send us an email. We meet once a month. Please get in touch if you have comments and ideas to share. We invite you to become a sustaining member in support of our efforts. We are looking to enrich the lives of all living here through sharing more cultural experiences and being part of protecting Nde benah and our Culture.
Well, there's a lot more to say, but this is a good start to the new monthly column
"The Moccasin Telegraph".
Become a Friend of the Chiricahua Apache Nation with a monthly contribution.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/friends-of-the-chiricahua-apache-2.
Ixexe, Thank you
