Editing Jicarilla Apache (section)

===Sacred land and creation story===
[[File:Apachean ca.18-century.png|250px|thumb|Apachean tribes ca. 18th century: WA – [[Western Apache]], N – [[Navajo people|Navajo]], Ch – [[Chiricahua]], M – [[Mescalero]], J – [[Jicarilla]], L – [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan]], Pl – [[Plains Apache]]]]

In the Jicarilla [[creation myth|creation story]], the land enclosed by the four [[sacred]] rivers was provided to them by the [[Creator deity|Creator]]. It included select places for communicating with the Creator and spirits, as well as sacred rivers and mountains to be respected and conserved. Additionally, there were very specific places for obtaining items for [[ceremony|ceremonial]] [[rituals]], such as the white [[clay]] found {{Convert|18|mi}} southeast of [[Taos, New Mexico|Taos]], red [[ochre]] {{Convert|20|mi}} north of Taos, and yellow ochre on a mountain near [[Picuris Pueblo]]. The Jicarilla people believe the "heart of the world" is located near Taos.<ref>Greenwald, 95-97.</ref><ref>Velarde Tiller, 26-28.</ref>

Traditional Jicarilla stories, such as White Shell Woman, Killer of the Enemies, Child of the Water, and others, feature people and places that are special to them. These places include the [[Rio Grande Gorge]], [[Picuris Pueblo]], the spring and marsh near [[El Prado, New Mexico|El Prado]], [[Hopewell, New Mexico|Hopewell Lake]], and particularly the [[Taos Pueblo]] and the four sacred rivers. Additionally, the Jicarilla created [[shrines]] in locations that held spiritual significance, some of which were shared with the Taos Pueblo in the Taos area.<ref>Eiselt, 57-59.</ref>

In 1865, Father [[Antonio José Martínez]], a priest from New Mexico, documented a connection between the Jicarilla people and Taos. He wrote that the Jicarilla had a long history of living between the mountains and the villages, with pottery making being an important source of income. The clay used for the pottery came from the Taos and Picuris Pueblo areas.<ref>Eiselt, 59-60.</ref>