Book

An Apache life-way: the economic, social, and religious institutions of the Chiricahua Indians

University of Chicago PressChicago • Published In 1941 • Pages:

By: Opler, Morris Edward.

Abstract
This source describes the culture of the Chiricahua Apache as it existed during the youth (i.e., ca. 1870) of the author's older informants from whom much of the data contained in this work was collected. Specifically, the author has attempted to show how societal influences inherent in the socialization processes impinge upon and direct an individual's personality development in such a manner as to produce a valued and accepted member of Chiricahua society. This process of socialization takes place through the individual's initial awareness of his culture, his initial contacts with its percepts, the social pressure that is brought to bear in order to enforce conformity, and the final adjustment, of the individual as measured through acceptance, to the demands, obligations and satisfactions of his society. In the presentation of his data, and development of his primary thesis the author gives much incidental information on various other aspects of Chiricahua ethnology. The source is divided into nine major parts, with emphasis on socialization processes throughout. These are: childhood; maturation (with emphasis on the molding of sex attitudes, the girl's puberty rite, and the training of boys for raid and war); social relations of adults; folk beliefs, medical practices and shamanism; household maintenance (hunting, use of wild plants, foods and beverages, their preparation and preservation, economic interest in warfare, division of labor, agriculture, property trade and gift giving); marital and sexual life of adults; the general round of life (including information on camp life and etiquette, humor, recreation, smoking, and games); status and political organization; and death and eschatology. The material for this source was gathered by the author, a professional anthropologist, during a cumulative period of time of approximately two years from 1931-1937. Over thirty native informants have contributed information to the author's field notes.
Subjects
Childhood activities
Puberty and initiation
Music
Arranging a marriage
Ethnometeorology
Revelation and divination
Mythology
Shamans and psychotherapists
Sacred objects and places
Theory of disease
Magical and mental therapy
Diet
Division of labor by gender
Extramarital sex relations
Athletic sports
Eschatology
culture
Chiricahua Apache
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 1964, 1970, 2011
Field Date
1931-1937
Coverage Date
1840-1886
Coverage Place
Southwest United States; northern Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico
Notes
Morris Edward Opler
Includes bibliographical references (481-482)and index
LCCN
41024474
LCSH
Apache Indians
Indians of North America
Chiricahua Indians--Social life and customs.