Chiricahua

Chiricahua (also Chiricahua Apaches, Chiricagui, Apaches de Chiricahui, Chiricahues, Chilicague, Chilecagez, Chiricagua) refers to a group of bands of Apache that formerly lived in the general areas of southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and in northern Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico (it is not possible to precisely define the exact boundaries of their territory).

Bands

Since the band was much more important than tribe in Chiricahua culture, there is no native word for a Chiricahua tribe in the Chiricahua language.

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According to Opler (1941) the Chiricahuas consisted of three bands:

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• Chíhéne or Chííhénee? 'Red Paint People' (a.k.a. the Eastern Chiricahua, Warm Springs Apache, Gileños, Ojo Caliente Apache, Coppermine Apache, Copper Mine, Mimbreños, Mimbres, Mogollones, Tcihende),
• Ch?úk?ánéń or Ch?uuk?anén (a.k.a. the Central Chiricahua, Ch?ók?ánéń, Cochise Apache, Chiricahua proper, Chiricaguis, Tcokanene),
• Ndé?indaaí or Nédnaa?í 'Enemy People' (a.k.a. the Southern Chiricahua, Southern Chiricahua, Chiricahua proper, Pinery Apache, Ne?na?i).

Schroeder (1947) disagrees with Opler and list five bands:

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• Mogollon
• Copper Mine
• Mimbres
• Warm Spring
• Chiricahua proper

According to the Chiricahua-Warm Springs Fort Sill Apache tribe in Oklahoma there are four bands in Fort Sill:

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• Chíhéne (a.k.a. the Warm Springs band, Chinde (?)),
• Chukunen (a.k.a. the Chiricahua band, Chokonende),
• Bidánku (a.k.a. Bidanku, Bedonkohe (?)),
• Ndéndai (a.k.a. Ndénai, Nednai).

Additionally there is the word Chidikáágu (derived from the Spanish word Chiricahua) which refers to Chiricahuas in general, and the word Indé, which refers to Apaches in general.

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Chiricahuas are called Ha?i?ą́há (meaning 'Eastern sunrise") by the White Mountain, Cibecue, and Bylas groups of the Western Apaches.

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They are called Hák?ą́yé by the San Carlos group of the Western Apaches.

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The Navajos call Chiricahuas Chíshí.

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