Public does not mean casual
Some Apache dancing is shared with visitors. Much of it is not. Whether an event is open depends on the nation, the occasion and the family or organizers hosting it. A public event is still a community event first, and visitors are guests. This article describes the kinds of public settings where dancing is commonly shared, and then turns to how to behave when you attend.
Because dates and rules change, nothing here should be treated as a schedule. The official websites and cultural offices of the nations are the right place to confirm dates, locations and whether outsiders are welcome.
Fairs, rodeos and community celebrations
Several Apache nations hold annual tribal fairs and rodeos, often in the summer and early fall. These events usually combine a parade or a rodeo with craft booths, food, sports and cultural performances, and they can include dancing and singing. They are meant for the community as well as visitors, and they often draw families who live away from the reservation back for the weekend.
Powwows are another public setting. The Apache powwow is part of a wider intertribal circuit, and dancers from many nations take part. The dances at a powwow are generally intertribal in style, while Apache-specific songs or dances may be added as special features. Apache people have been involved in powwows for a long time, and Plains Apache communities in Oklahoma have especially close ties to the southern Plains powwow tradition.
Fourth of July and the Sunrise Ceremony
On some reservations, the early July holiday period has long been a gathering time. Among the Mescalero Apache, for example, the girls’ Sunrise Ceremony and a public feast are traditionally held around the Fourth of July weekend. The ceremony is a multi-day religious event for the families involved. The public aspects, such as the camp, the feast and some of the dancing in the open, are what visitors may be permitted to watch, depending on the year and on the hosts.
Keep in mind that the Sunrise Ceremony itself is sacred. It is not a show, and its inner details are not for public description. Some families hold such ceremonies at other times of year as private events. Seeing one is never a right, and being invited by a family is different from attending a public gathering.
Feast days in other nations
The Jicarilla Apache hold a well-known feast in mid-September, the Gojiiya, which is generally described as including a ceremonial relay race and a community celebration at Stone Lake near Dulce, New Mexico. As with other events, details can change, and visitors should check the nation’s official channels before traveling.
Other Apache nations have their own seasonal gatherings, church feasts and community days. Some, such as feasts tied to saints’ days in communities with a long history of Christian missions, mix older and newer traditions. Apache public celebrations are therefore varied, and there is no single calendar that fits all nations.
Etiquette for visitors
Good manners at an Apache event are mostly the same as at any community gathering, with some added care for sacred contexts.
- Ask first. Contact the tribal office or event organizers if the event is open to outsiders and whether there are fees or rules.
- Photography and recording. Many events forbid photographs, video and audio entirely, especially during ceremonies. Signs and announcers will usually say so. If in doubt, do not record.
- Stay behind boundaries. Do not enter the dance ground, camp areas or ceremonial structures unless invited.
- Dress and behavior. Dress modestly. Avoid alcohol and drugs; many events are alcohol-free. Keep voices low during songs, and keep children close.
- Applause and comments. Follow the crowd. Some dances are not applauded, and commentary during sacred portions is out of place.
- Do not touch regalia or objects. Ask before touching or photographing any person’s dress, and never handle sacred items.
- Support makers fairly. Buy crafts directly from artists, ask the artist’s name and nation, and do not haggle hard.
- Food and hospitality. If food is offered, accept it politely, and follow the lead of hosts about seating and serving.
More guidance appears in material on visiting Apache ceremonies etiquette and on photography on tribal lands, both of which apply to public events as well.
Why these events matter
For Apache communities, fairs, rodeos and feasts are not tourist products. They are occasions for family reunion, for passing songs and dances to young people, and for sharing food and news. Visitors who come to listen and learn, and who leave without taking images or objects that were not offered, usually find that they are treated generously.