Book

Western Apache raiding and warfare: from the notes of Grenville Goodwin

University of Arizona PressTucson • Published In 1971 • Pages:

By: Goodwin, Grenville, Basso, Keith H., 1940.

Abstract
Despite the abundant literature on the Western Apache, few non-Indian writers have really taken the time to try to understand the way of life of the people, and even fewer still have attempted to write effectively about it. Much of the early literature on these people was written by white men who fought the Indians and who took part in their eventual roundup for placement on reservations. Little of this literature reflects a view of the values by which Apaches lived. In this study, which deals primarily with raiding and warfare behavior, Goodwin attempts to write ethnography from the standpoint of the Indians living it -- through the '… personal narratives of six Apache men and women whose life experiences included the last phase of Apache life when raiding was still an important aspect of their adaptation' (p. 7). Although not all informants actually participated in raising and warfare activities themselves, their information was obtained from parents and grandparents who did take part. During the several years that the author lived among the Apache, many pages of field notes were accumulated as the first step in the preparation of a major monograph on the Western Apache, a goal never fulfilled. Eventually these field notes, (particularly those dealing with social organization and religion), were painstakingly transcribed from the handwritten originals by Mrs. Goodwin, and edited by graduate students at the University of Chicago for publication. It was not until 1969, however, that the actual publication of Goodwin's material became feasible. At that time, Mrs. Goodwin and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arizona made the arrangement for the final editing and publication of the whole body of notes. The present work is divided into two major sections, the first of which deals with the six autobiographical narratives previously noted, dealing with events that took place from the 1850's to the 1880's. The second part is composed of briefer statements organized under the topical heading of 'weapons,' 'taboos,' etc.
Subjects
Brawls, riots, and banditry
Military organization
Instigation of war
Warfare
Aftermath of combat
culture
Western Apache
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1980
Field Date
1929-1969
Coverage Date
1850s-1880s
Coverage Place
east central Arizona, United States
Notes
Edited by Keith H. Basso, with the assistance of E. W. Jernigan and W. B. Kessell
Includes bibliographical references (p. 321-323)
LCCN
73142255
LCSH
Western Apache Indians