E-Book Content
ON TOP OF THE EARTH The Spiritual Universe of the Plains Apaches Kay Parker Schweinfurth PRAYER ON TOP OF THE EARTH ON TOP OF THE EARTH The Spiritual Universe of the Plains Apaches KAY PARKER SCHWEINFURTH © 2002 by the University Press of Colorado Published by the University Press of Colorado 5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C Boulder, Colorado 80303 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, University of Southern Colorado, and Western State College of Colorado. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39.48-1992 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Schweinfurth, Kay Parker, 1932– Prayer on top of the earth : the spiritual universe of the Plains Apaches / by Kay Parker Schweinfurth. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-87081-656-X (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Apache Indians—Religion. 2. Apache mythology. 3. Apache Indians—Rites and ceremonies. I. Title. E99.A6 S38 2002 299'.782—dc21 2001007755 Design by Daniel Pratt Typesetting by Laura Furney The author and publisher make grateful acknowledgment to the Texas Folklore Society for permission to reprint “In the Beginning,” pp. 17–18 in “Kiowa Apache Tales” by J. Gilbert McAllister in The Sky Is My Tipi, ed. Mody Boatright. Publication of the Texas Folklore Society No. 22, University Press, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, 1949. 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CO-WINNER OF THE 2001 COLORADO ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES PUBLICATION PRIZE The CEH Publication Prize was created in 1998 and the first awards were made in 1999. The prize annually supports publication of outstanding nonfiction works that have strong humanities content and that make an area of humanities research more available to the Colorado public. The CEH Publication Prize funds are shared by the University Press of Colorado and the authors of the works being recognized. The Colorado Endowment for the Humanities is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of humanities education for all Coloradans. Illustrations ix Preface xi Pronunciation Guide xv Introduction xvii 1 SEVEN E LDER HISTORIANS 1 2 T H E P L A I N S A P A C H E S 11 Prehistory 11 Early History: 1541–1834 13 Years of Strife: 1835–1867 15 A Vanquished People 19 The Plains Apache Culture 25 3 THE APACHE UNIVERSE Spirit Beings 27 Ancient Time 30 27 CONTENTS Cosmic Spirits 37 Coyote the Trickster 47 Sacred Symbols and Colors 49 Water, Thunder, and Whirlwind Spirits 54 Sacred Fire and Tobacco 57 Sweat Lodge 57 4 PRAYER TOP OF THE EARTH Medicine Bundles 60 ON 60 S P I R I T S 67 Feathers 67 Eagle 68 Hawk and Falcon 69 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Woodpecker 71 Magpie, Roadrunner, and Pheasant 73 Owl 74 Buzzard and Crow 76 Crane, Egret, and Goose 77 Whippoorwill and Meadowlark 78 Prairie Chicken, Quail, and Turkey 78 Dove and Hummingbird 81 5 BIRDS AND 6 A N I M A L S A N D S P I R I T S 82 Spirit Orchestration 82 Buffalo 83 Horse 89 Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, Elk, and Moose 91 Bear 91 Wildcat and Mountain Lion 94 Coyote, Wolf, and Fox 95 Dog 96 Weasel, Otter, and Beaver 96 Skunk, Badger, Raccoon, Opossum, and Porcupine 98 Rabbit, Squirrel, and Prairie Dog 101 Mole, Armadillo, and Rodent 102 Bat 104 Turtle and Horned Toad 104 Snake, Mountain Boomer, and Alligator 105 vi CONTENTS 7 P E O P L