Canyons

A foundational aspect of Canyons is the culture of the Apache people, to whom Coyote Runs belongs. Apache culture and history are deeply rooted in the Southwestern region of North America, encompassing what is now Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico. The Apache people, comprised of several distinct groups such as the Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, and Western Apache, were known for their adaptability, resilience, and skill in navigating diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to deserts.

Before the contemporary period, Apache society was organized into bands or extended family groups, led by respected leaders or chiefs who were chosen based on their wisdom, bravery, and ability to lead in times of both peace and conflict. These leaders played crucial roles in decision-making, hunting, trade relations, and ceremonial activities central to Apache spiritual life. The Apache were hunter-gatherers who relied on both the land and their own resourcefulness. They hunted game such as deer and antelope and gathered a variety of plants, seeds, and roots. Agriculture, though limited in comparison to neighboring tribes like the Pueblo people, also played a supplementary role in their subsistence.

The period around 1860, when the Coyote Runs chapters of Canyons are set, marked a tumultuous time for the Apache as they increasingly came into conflict with encroaching white colonizers and the expanding United States government. These tensions were exacerbated by competition over resources such as land and water, as well as cultural misunderstandings and clashes of values. Apache resistance to outside forces was led by notable figures such as Mangas Coloradas and Cochise among the Chiricahua, who sought to defend their homelands and way of life against incursions. Their strategies combined traditional guerrilla warfare tactics with diplomacy, alliances with other tribes, and adaptation to the changing circumstances brought about by American expansionism.