The Apaches and Navajos (First Books)

By Katherine M. Doherty and Craig A. Doherty

Book Overview

A close look at the lives, religion and beliefs, clothes, food, games, and arts and crafts of these two tribes. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0531156028
• ISBN13: 9780531156025
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Franklin Watts
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 7.0" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A good description for young people

The Apaches and Navajos are two separate families of tribes that inhabit a large area of the American Southwest. Since their traditional areas of inhabitation were contiguous and the climates were the same, they shared most of their economic and cultural traits. This book is a brief history of their existence as well as many of their traditions. Written for young people, their diet, religious beliefs, social structures, and the crafts that they currently produce are described. The most interesting point is that the Apache tribes were matrilineal, in that when a child married, the couple became part of the tribe of the mother of the wife. Enormous changes took place when the Spanish arrived. The introduction of the horse and sheep dramatically increased the range of these nomadic people, which led to an increase in the food supply. At first, they were able to drive the Spanish away, but it was not long before their battles became a string of defeats. This book is an excellent introduction to the main class of Native American tribes that live in the desert southwest. Both the history and present conditions of the tribes are well covered in only a few pages.