Fort Sill Apache Tribe

The Fort Sill Apache Tribe, based in Apache, Oklahoma, is a federally recognized Native American tribe primarily composed of descendants of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache bands. Below is a detailed summary of their history, current status, and notable contributions, focusing on their identity as a distinct Apache group with ties to Cochise County, Arizona, and their broader cultural and historical significance. 

 

Historical Background:

The Fort Sill Apache are the successors to the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache, whose ancestral homelands spanned southeastern Arizona (including Cochise County), southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. These bands, known for their fierce resistance against colonization, included four loosely affiliated groups: Chíhéne (Warm Springs/Eastern Chiricahua), Chukunen (Chiricahua proper/Central Chiricahua), Bidánku (Bedonkohe/Northeastern Chiricahua), and Ndéndai (Southern Chiricahua). Led by figures like Cochise, Victorio, and Geronimo, they resisted Mexican and U.S. expansion during the Apache Wars (1861–1886). After Geronimo’s final surrender in 1886, the Chiricahua were declared prisoners of war, forcibly removed from their homelands, and imprisoned in Florida, Alabama, and later Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from 1886 to 1914. https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe 

In 1894, Congress passed a special provision to relocate approximately 296 surviving Chiricahua to Fort Sill, making them the last Native American group moved to Indian Territory. Promised a permanent home at Fort Sill, they faced pressure from local non-Indian politicians and military officials by 1910 to leave the military reservation. In 1913, during an event called "the Parting," about 180 members relocated to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico, while 81 individuals (roughly 20 families) stayed in Oklahoma, receiving small allotments of farmland near Apache and Fletcher. These remaining families became the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, formally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1976 with the adoption of a tribal constitution. https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/history-and-traditional-culture/history/  https://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.2831  https://www.southwestledger.news/news/background-fort-sill-apache-tribe 

 

Current Status - **Population and Enrollment**:

As of recent data, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe has approximately 650 enrolled members, requiring a minimum 1/16 blood quantum (one great-great-grandparent) for membership. The tribe maintains close ties with Chiricahua descendants on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe  https://data.nativemi.org/tribal-directory/Details/fort-sill-apache-tribe-of-oklahoma-198671 

 

Tribal Lands

The tribe’s jurisdictional area spans Caddo, Comanche, and Grady Counties in Oklahoma, with 130 acres of trust land. They also hold 4 acres of sacred land in Cochise County, Arizona, returned by a private landholder, and 30 uninhabited acres in Luna County, New Mexico, where they operate Apache Homelands, a restaurant, cigarette shop, and museum. A 2011 reservation proclamation recognized their New Mexico land, affirming their ancestral ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe  https://www.nmhealthcouncils.org/land-acknowledgment-toolkit/fort-sill-apache  https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/history-and-traditional-culture/ 

 

Governance:

The tribe is governed by a General Council of all members aged 18 and older, with a Business Committee (including a Chairperson, Vice-Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer, and three committeemen) elected for two-year terms. Lori Gooday Ware currently serves as Chairperson. The tribe’s constitution, ratified in 1976 and amended multiple times, outlines its governance structure. https://narf.org/nill/constitutions/fort_sill/index.html  https://navajoprep.libguides.com/c.php?g=1187839&p=8687931 

 

Economic Activities

The Fort Sill Apache operate the Fort Sill Apache Casino in Lawton, Oklahoma, which had a $10 million economic impact in 2008. They also run Apache Homelands in New Mexico and Fort Sill Apache Industries, a tribal enterprise. Efforts to open a casino in New Mexico faced resistance, with legal disputes against state officials, including a 2014 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling affirming their recognition as a New Mexico tribe. https://www.nmhealthcouncils.org/land-acknowledgment-toolkit/fort-sill-apache  https://navajoprep.libguides.com/c.php?g=1187839&p=8687931  https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/history-and-traditional-culture/ 

 

Cultural Preservation and Contributions

The Fort Sill Apache have faced significant cultural loss due to displacement, loss of a viable land base, and language decline. However, they actively work to preserve their Chiricahua heritage

 

Cultural Practices

The tribe maintains traditional Apache practices, including matrilineal kinship, sacred ceremonies, and crafts like basketry. Efforts to revitalize the Chiricahua dialect, a Southern Athabaskan language, are ongoing, though it is endangered. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=AP003  

 

Notable Figures:

Mildred Cleghorn (1910–1997)**: The first tribal chairperson (1976–1995), born under prisoner-of-war status, was an educator and traditional doll maker, recognized as a cultural leader. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe 

 

Allan Houser (1914–1994)**: The first Fort Sill Apache born free, Houser became a renowned modernist sculptor and painter, celebrated as one of the 20th century’s most influential Native American artists. His sons, Bob Haozous and Phillip Haozous, are also accomplished sculptors and enrolled tribal members. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe 

Nancy Marie Mithlo**: A professor, curator, and visual anthropologist, Mithlo contributes to Native American studies and cultural representation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe 

 

Benedict Jozhe, Jr.**: A 20th-century leader who documented tribal history, contributing to works like *A Brief History of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe* (1961).[](https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2123805/) -

Environmental and Legal Advocacy**: The tribe has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish an environmental protection office, addressing issues like illegal dumping and water quality. Their 2013 lawsuit against New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez secured state recognition, ensuring inclusion in tribal consultations. https://navajoprep.libguides.com/c.php?g=1187839&p=8687931  https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/history-and-traditional-culture/  

 

Contemporary Challenges:

The Fort Sill Apache continue to assert their rights to ancestral lands in New Mexico and Arizona, facing resistance from state governments and competing claims from other groups asserting Chiricahua identity. For example, the Chiricahua Apache Nation, a non-federally recognized group, disputes the Fort Sill Apache’s claim as the sole legitimate Chiricahua descendants, citing gaps in historical records. The tribe also navigates economic challenges, with efforts to expand gaming operations in New Mexico met with legal and political opposition. https://www.scdailypress.com/2021/12/31/fort-sill-apache-raise-concerns-tribal-groups-seek-recognition/ 

 

Connection to Cochise County

The Fort Sill Apache’s ancestral ties to Cochise County, Arizona, remain significant. The 4 acres of sacred land in Cochise County symbolize their enduring connection to their Chiricahua homeland, where leaders like Cochise once resisted encroachment. The tribe’s efforts to maintain these ties include cultural events and advocacy for land rights, reflecting their commitment to their historical roots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_Apache_Tribe 

 

Summary

The Fort Sill Apache Tribe, descendants of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache, is a resilient community headquartered in Apache, Oklahoma, with a history marked by displacement and perseverance. After enduring imprisonment from 1886 to 1914, they were recognized as a tribe in 1976 and now manage economic ventures like the Fort Sill Apache Casino while preserving their cultural heritage through art, education, and advocacy. Notable figures like Mildred Cleghorn and Allan Houser have elevated their legacy, and ongoing efforts focus on language revitalization, environmental protection, and reclaiming ancestral lands. Their connection to Cochise County underscores their historical identity as Chiricahua Apache. If you’d like more details on specific aspects, such as their cultural programs, notable individuals, or current advocacy efforts, let me know! You can also contact the tribe directly at their headquarters (fortsillapache-nsn.gov) or explore their history through resources like the Oklahoma Historical Society. https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/