Editing Apache (section)

===Food===
[[File:Apache-still-life restored-2.jpg|thumb|Various Apache containers: baskets, bowls and jars. Apache women wove [[yucca]], willow leaves, or [[juniper]] bark into baskets that could hold heavy loads.<ref>Carolyn Casey. ''The Apache'', Marshall Cavendish, 2006, p. 18</ref>]]

Apache people obtained food from hunting, gathering wild plants, cultivating domestic plants, trade, or raiding neighboring groups for livestock and agricultural projects.<ref>Information on Apache subsistence are in Basso (1983: 467–470), Foster & McCollough (2001: 928–929), Opler (1936b: 205–210; 1941: 316–336, 354–375; 1983b: 412–413; 1983c: 431–432; 2001: 945–947), and Tiller (1983: 441–442).</ref>

Particular types of foods eaten by a group depending upon their respective environment.

====Hunting====
Hunting was done primarily by men, although there were sometimes exceptions depending on animal and culture (e.g. Lipan women could help in hunting rabbits and Chiricahua boys were also allowed to hunt rabbits).

[[File:Apache jug (UBC-2011).jpg|thumb|upright|Apache jug]]

Hunting often had elaborate preparations, such as fasting and religious rituals performed by [[Medicine man|medicine men]] before and after the hunt. In Lipan culture, since deer were protected by Mountain Spirits, great care was taken in Mountain Spirit rituals to ensure smooth hunting. Slaughter follows religious guidelines (many of which are recorded in religious stories) prescribing cutting, prayers, and bone disposal. Southern Athabascan hunters often distributed successfully slaughtered game. For example, among the Mescalero a hunter was expected to share as much as half of his kill with a fellow hunter and needy people at the camp. Feelings of individuals about this practice spoke of social obligation and spontaneous generosity.

The most common hunting weapon before the introduction of European guns was the [[Bow (weapon)|bow and arrow]]. Various hunting techniques were used. Some involved wearing animal head masks as a disguise. Whistles were sometimes used to lure animals closer. Another technique was the relay method where hunters positioned at various points would chase the prey in turns in order to tire the animal. A similar method involved chasing the prey down a steep cliff.

Eating certain animals was taboo. Although different cultures had different taboos, common examples included bears, peccaries, turkeys, fish, snakes, insects, owls, and coyotes. An example of taboo differences: the black bear was a part of the Lipan diet (although less common as buffalo, deer, or antelope), but the Jicarilla never ate bear because it was considered an evil animal. Some taboos were a regional phenomenon, such as fish, which was taboo throughout the southwest (e.g. in certain Pueblo cultures like the [[Hopi]] and [[Zuni people|Zuni]]) and considered to resemble a snake (an evil animal) in physical appearance.<ref>Brugge, p. 494</ref><ref>Landar</ref>

Western Apache hunted deer and [[pronghorn]]s mostly in the ideal late fall. After the meat was smoked into jerky around November, they migrated from the farm sites in the mountains along stream banks to winter camps in the [[Salt River (Arizona)|Salt]], [[Black River (Arizona)|Black]], [[Gila river]] and even the Colorado River valleys.

The Chiricahua mostly hunted deer followed by pronghorn. Lesser game included [[cottontail rabbit]]s, [[opossum]]s, squirrels, surplus horses, surplus mules, ''wapiti'' (elk), wild cattle and [[wood rat]]s.

The Mescalero primarily hunted deer. Other game includes [[bighorn sheep]], buffalo (for those living closer to the plains), cottontail rabbits, elk, horses, mules, opossums, pronghorn, wild steers, and wood rats. Beavers, minks, muskrats, and weasels were hunted for their hides but were not eaten.

The Jicarilla primarily hunted bighorn sheep, buffalo, deer, elk, and pronghorn. Other game included beaver, bighorn sheep, chief hares, chipmunks, doves, groundhogs, grouse, peccaries, porcupines, prairie dogs, quail, rabbits, skunks, snow birds, squirrels, turkeys and wood rats. Burros and horses were only eaten in emergencies. Minks, weasels, wildcats and wolves were not eaten but hunted for their body parts.

The Lipan ate mostly buffalo with a three-week hunt during the fall and smaller hunts until the spring. The second most utilized animal was deer. Fresh [[Deer Blood|deer blood]] was drunk for health. Other animals included beavers, bighorns, black bears, burros, ducks, elk, fish, horses, mountain lions, mourning doves, mules, prairie dogs, pronghorns, quail, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, turtles, and wood rats. Skunks were eaten only in emergencies.

Plains Apache hunters hunted primarily buffalo and deer. Other game included badgers, bears, beavers, fowl (including geese), opossums, otters, rabbits, and tortoises.