The Apache Sunrise Dance is a four-day female coming-of-age ceremony that temporarily transforms a girl into Changing Woman, the first lady and mother of her people. This sacred event is significant for both the girl and the entire Apache community, as it involves ancient tests of strength, endurance, and character that prepare them for the trials of womanhood.
The Mescalero Apache Tribe recognizes girls as women only after they undergo the Sunrise Ceremony, an ancient, four-day ceremony. This ceremony takes place during the summer after a girl’s first menstrual period, and is a significant spiritual event for both the girl and the entire Apache community. The entire community participates in this initiation ceremony, which is a significant part of preserving the tribe’s culture and traditions.
The ceremony aims to teach girls how to tap into their inner strength, which are far deeper than they ever imagined. For example, 13-year-old Dachina will pass through ancient tests of strength, endurance, and character that will make her a woman. The Mescalero Apaches have saved resources and prepared spiritually all year for this elaborate four-day ritual, which involves a series of tests that challenge the girls’ strength, endurance, and character, preparing them for the trials of womanhood.
📹 Girl’s Rite of Passage | National Geographic
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Who is the main character in Apache Girl’s rite of passage?
In the classroom setting, we viewed a video entitled “Apache Girl Rites of Passage,” which chronicles Dachina’s transition into womanhood.
What is the main idea of the rite of passage?
Individuals engage in rites of passage, which entail participation in designated rituals to mark their life stages and societal roles, frequently emphasizing their coming-of-age and adulthood. Such events and rituals serve to reinforce the individual’s position within the social structure.
What are some Apache rituals?
The Mescalero Apache Puberty Rite Ceremony is a sacred four-day ritual that marks the transition from girlhood to womanhood. The ceremony emphasizes the girl’s upbringing, including learning her tribal language and instilling discipline and good manners from infancy. The ceremony binds the Mescalero Apache as a cohesive unit, with masked dancers performing singing and drumming in the evenings. Preparation for the ceremony often begins a year in advance, with sacred items like roasted mescal heart and pollen from water plants gathering.
A medicine man and medicine woman participate, and dancers and singers are arranged. A ceremonial dress, either from a relative or made for the occasion, is important as it is a symbolic part of the rite. The family’s obligation is to prepare a feast for each day of the ceremony and share the bounty with all attendees. Gifts are also given.
What are the four stages of an Apache woman’s life?
Before the Sunrise Ceremony, girls are blessed with pollen, symbolizing fertility, and the medicine man blesses the ceremonial dress and other items. The ritual begins with the construction of a sacred tipi, which contains baskets filled with pollen and ceremonial objects. The young Apache girls run toward the rising sun, representing the four stages of life: infant, child, adolescent, and woman. The ceremony includes hours of dancing, with girls allowed to have a dancing partner if desired.
On the second day, the girls face the rising sun, dancing to thirty-two songs about the transition from childhood to adulthood. The third day involves hours of dancing and sharing meals. On the fourth day, the girls pray to mountain spirits for a long and successful life. The initiants’ faces are painted with white clay, symbolizing the goddess Changing Woman.
The ceremony ends with the girls receiving a new name and acknowledging their transition into womanhood. The Sunrise Ceremony serves various purposes, including personal, spiritual, and communal aspects. It is a symbol of the Apache community’s culture and acknowledges the transition into womanhood.
What is the symbolism of the rite of passage?
Rites of passage are ceremonial events that mark the transition from one social or religious status to another. These events are universal and have been observed in various societies worldwide. Many rites are connected with biological crises, such as birth, maturity, reproduction, and death, which bring changes in social status and social relations. Other rites celebrate cultural changes, such as initiation into societies with special interests, such as fraternities.
Rites of passage have been the primary socially approved means of participating in pleasurable activities, and religion has been a primary vehicle for art, music, song, dance, and other forms of aesthetic experience. The first substantial interpretation of these rites as a class of phenomena was presented in 1909 by French anthropologist and folklorist Arnold van Gennep. Van Gennep saw rites of passage as means by which individuals are eased through the difficulties of transitioning from one social role to another without social disruption.
Rites of passage consist of three distinguishable elements: separation, transition, and reincorporation. The person symbolically severed from their old status is then subjected to adjustment during the transition period, and finally reincorporated into society in their new social status. Although most commonly observed rites relate to crises in the life cycle, van Gennep saw the significance of the ceremonies as being social or cultural, celebrating important events that are primarily sociocultural or human-made rather than biological.
What is the Apache woman rite of passage?
The Sunrise Ceremonial is a traditional event in the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona, marking the transition of an Apache girl into a woman. It takes place during the summer after a girl’s first menstrual period and lasts four days. The girl traditionally takes on the role of Changing Woman, the first woman on earth and the mother of all Apache women. Anna Goseyun, a White Mountain Apache, knew she would give Carla a Sunrise Ceremonial from the time she was born.
Despite her Catholic upbringing, Anna taught her daughters the importance of practicing Apache beliefs. Carla initially hesitated, but eventually agreed and the family began a six-month planning process. They chose godparents and a medicine man for the ceremony, and built a special camp to shelter up to eight families.
What are the rites of passages for girls?
A Mom’s Guide to 5 Rites of Passage for Girls focuses on the hormonal changes that come with raising daughters, tweens, and teens. These rites of passage include shaving legs, wearing a bra, piercing ears, wearing makeup, and using tampons. The decisions to allow these actions can be challenging due to the vast number of opinions and opinions among mothers. However, it is essential to consider your daughter’s maturity and other factors when making these decisions.
By following these rites of passage, you can be more confident in your choices and be prepared for raising a teenage girl. By understanding these rites of passage, you can make informed decisions that are appropriate for your daughter’s age and stage of development.
How does Dachina feel about the rite of passage?
In “The Medicine Bag”, the main characters initially feel uncomfortable and uneasy about their rite of passage, while in “Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage”, Dachina is excited and ready throughout the entire video. The narrator in both stories is the main character, while in “Cherokee Night Ritual Into Manhood”, the narrator explains the story. The time it takes for the rite of passage is different, with “Cherokee Night Ritual Into Manhood” taking one night, while “Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” takes days. The story also differs in the timing, with “Cherokee Night Ritual Into Manhood” taking one night and “Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” taking days.
The novel expresses three themes: rebellion, freedom, and maturation, which are developed throughout the story, providing a unique perspective on a time in history. Freedom is a right in everyone’s life, and freedom is something everyone should have. Anthony Kotlowitz’s book, “There Are No Children Here”, reports on the experiences of two brothers living in a housing project in Chicago. Kotlowitz uses an ethnographic approach to obtain authentic details and emotion from the children, making the reader feel a connection to the story.
What do the four days of the Apache girls rite of passage ceremony symbolize?
On the Mescalero Apache Reservation, a 13-year-old girl undergoes a four-day coming-of-age ceremony in a forest clearing, marking her initiation into womanhood. The ceremony, which lasts four days and into the morning of a fifth, involves teepees and oak-branch arbors. Family and friends gather to support Seaven Martinez, who performs rites believed to have been gifted to her people centuries ago by White Painted Woman.
A team of men erects the “big teepee” at sunrise on the first morning, with some of Seaven’s friends and family working for the Mescalero Apache Natural Resources Department. The tribe also provides firewood, picnic tables, trash collection, and cash donations to ease the financial burden on the girl’s family. The events span 12 days, including set-up and tear-down time.
Medicine woman Uretta Platta coaches Seaven during the ceremony and offers spiritual lessons rooted in everyday challenges. She encourages her to continue her education, not have children too early, and to watch her surroundings for a good life.
How do Apache greet each other?
The greeting among the indigenous peoples of the Southwest, including the Apache, Yavapai, and Navajo, is a simple handshake. However, there are also more elaborate forms of greeting, such as throwing the hands and arms upwards or embracing one another. This is observed when two Navajo women meet.
What is the rite of female initiation?
A female initiation rite is a mandatory ceremonial event for all girls in a given society, typically celebrated between the ages of eight and twenty.
📹 Girl’s Rites of Passage with Captions
Just seeing this article makes me wanna have my comming of age ceremony again. . the main thing i miss & loved was dancing in the big teepee. . it was a challange but i made it through. . I wouldn’t have made it without the support of my family & friends. . I would really like to thank Zelda Yazza & David Mardon for being there taking care of me all four days. . but thatsa a memorie i wount forget!!
Aho good one! As a young Xicano from Colorado I am happy to have seen this in my life. They even put me and my Barrio Warrior bros to work out there, they were real good to us. It is a beautiful thing to witness, just regret not able to make the run in the morning. Hopefully I’ll be back one day. Blessings to all
Very interesting. It’s fascinating how much diversity can exist within a single land. Just like the different European nations, or the different African tribes, there are some cultural traits that are universally recognized among all the Native American tribes, but at the same time, each one has different rituals, songs, ceremonies, etc. that set that tribe apart from the rest. I love learning about stuff like this. I just find it all so fascinating.
@CSFLY77 Right now I’m reading a book about Lozen. It has been so hard to find it here in Italy. It’s amazing that there are so little information about her, maybe because she was so important to the people that they wanted to protect her. It seems that even Geronimo never spoke about her. Next august I’ll go to South West and I’m trying so hard to learn as much as possible about history, culture and daily life of native people.That’s way I read many comments in the web. Sorry for my english
It’s interesting to see how other bands of Apache do their sunrise ceremonies. This is way different then the way that my tribe does this ceremony but it does bring back memories of my ceremony. They tell you don’t smile or frown because when you’re an old woman you’ll have lots of wrinkles. I don’t know how true that is but I was like, “If I get wrinkles I’d rather they be from smiling not frowning! Lol!
The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal. beep A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound. ding Remember to run in a straight line, and run as long as possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start. You feel like it’s easy at first. But you are so wrong. You run until you feel like you are going to die right there in the middle of the track, the same gym teacher yelling at you to keep going. But you just can’t do it. You make it back to your partner and collapse, breathing heavily.
I experienced this ceremony in 1976. It was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I was not allowed to be close and see things as this article show. I am in tears of joy and connection to all my relations as I watch. Thank you, Mescalero, for opening yourselves and your sacred ways. I hope to go back to Mescalero soon and witness these sacred ways from different eyes. Aho.
The girl chose to do this. Many other natives choose not to. She wasn’t forced. Tradition is culture and people. By practicing this she gave her people’s way of life a chance, a way to preserve their Identity. Without these ceremonies, they’re heritage would cease to exist. All rights of passage into adulthood require some sort of test, be it a dance or getting your driver’s licence. A test of physical, mental, spiritual, emotional fortitude or a mix of all four. I don’t see it abusive.
If they let it be articletaped then obviously they don’t think it ‘takes something away’. They are proud and want people to see how they live their lives. I have never understood how people ‘use so and so to symbolize so and so’ it seems really outdated in these times, but I respect that that is their beliefs, so cool for them.
I always thought the Navajo ceremony was tough, I didn’t know too much about the Apaches’ way, but I had a friend who did both because she was part Apache Navajo and Hopi, and the things she told me sounded so difficult, most Navajos wing it on their ceremonies too, there’s a shortened version, for the sake of time and our busy schedules in the outside world
*Part 2* Good rite of passage And the reason they paint her is that their welcoming a new women to the tribe. And the reason they don’t show the girls dancing in the Big Tepee is because its very sacred. But they dance all night on the last night. They don’t dance non stop they have breaks so she can rest ect. When girl’s have this cerm, they have to be pure. So that’s why our culture is vanishing. And I would explane the rest but the rest is very sacred But I hope this helped you guys out a lil
I think that it is interesting to see the way the Mescalero Apache do their ceremony. It is neat to see that the different Apache bands/reservations do their ceremonies differently. I am from San Carlos, and when I had my ceremony, it was awesome, to know I had that much power to heal and be close to Ulsin, was a very great experience! Any Apache girl that has this ceremony grows, and is blessed in many ways..
I remember doing my kinaaldá, it was so torturing but I appriciated it. On the last day I was literally crying because I wasn’t allowed to sleep the night before and I had to stay up until 12:00 am. We drove four hours from the city to the reservation without almost ANYTHING to get my kinaaldá ready.
apache,i love. Iam from Greece. I always loved North America’s Indians for their culture, their spirit, their sense of the Nature. Ilove to call them Indians, because for Greeks this word has the meaning of a free, strong, unbroken spirit. In my language Indianos (pl. Indiani) is used for the native Americans while Indos (pl. Indi) is used for people of India, so there is no doubt about the meaning.
*Part 1* First, they miss lots of other info that’s why you guys keeping having questions. The reason her mother prepared for years is because everything has a meaning. And she get’s her dress made for her. She doesn’t were hand me downs. They all don’t have to have their comming of age cerm they can have it alone. But the 4th is the big one where lot of ppl come. And if she was allergic to pollen she would still proceed with it.Her medicine women will bless her so her so it would be a…
@CSFLY77 Thank you, you’re very kind. I read that women were kept in great regard among many tribes. Maybe Lozen took advantage being so powerful and moreover a great chief’s sister so she could choose her fate. I really hope that her time will come. The author of the book I’m reading took many years to write it because of the lack of information and still there are gaps he filled with guess.
@humanbatteries911 thats the thing tho, allergies usuall are usually formed because the person has not had much exposure to that thing. Thats why, i myself have no alergies and back when i was living in asia, I had only heard of dog or cat allergies from TV, i didnt even know there was sooo many more such as Nut Allergies until i came to england =/
This is where you fail to understand. I don’t WANT to change your beliefs. You can follow WHATEVER faith you choose. What I -DO- oppose and what I find utterly despicable is your disrespect of OTHER beliefs and thinking that you HAVE to change their minds. Because according to you, they’re wrong. THAT is my problem with your kind. Such complete disregard for personal boundaries and simple decency fills me with hatred and disgust. I don’t WANT to change you. I want you to stop pestering people.
And one last addition, since the comment fields are too small: All the morale posturing in the WORLD isn’t going to make your words hold a DROP of water, so long as you keep carrying on as you do. A million truths will STILL sound like a million lies when coming from the lips of a lunatic. If someone tells you to STOP HARASSING THEM with your dogma, you are expected to–out of RESPECT–do so. You absolutely CANNOT force your beliefs on people. It’s ignorant and wrong. Long story short? Stop.
what are you talking about black peolpe african americans ancestors come from African tribes and the have traditions rites and rituals like the native americans when the europeans brought african slaves to america over time they lost there language and there own native culture in america in africa there is traditional religion and very coloful culture in 1800,s african warriors cammanded from the zulu tribe dfeated the british army in battle wih spears guns and clubs and some had guns.
@EuropeanGuy87 Europeans don’t have cultural ceremonies that celebrate someone’s rite of passage? What are baptisms and confirmations and christenings and First Holy Communion? Study your own history before you write things that are so very wrong. What makes you think Apache don’t teach life skills? The fact that they are here in the present day means they did pretty well before the Europeans came along, which means their culture worked for them before their world was turned upside down.
@CSFLY77 You are right, a lot of people fantasize about a life that they could not handle, however, many religious rites are comparatively detached from mother earth and the energy that drives us. In western culture becoming a man or a woman has become ambivalent, with equally ambivalent rites. What is on offer; Have you foreskin cut off?? Join the army??? Be the boss of a corporation???? I would rather dance until I drop!
@alihr787 And you should have been taught at an early age to strive towards rational thought and reason. Educate yourself in the bible (in its entirety) and the religions which preceded it and from which much is borrowed. An unbiased view will show that book of yours to be complete crap. Do you believe in Zeus? Horus? Shiva? When you understand why you discount those god, you will understand why I discount yours.
It’s amazing that the American Indians did keep so much of their culture and traditions alive despite losing their land and lives to European “progress” and European diseases. It is amazing to realize that the North American continent was emptied of it’s people simply by diseases like smallpox and tb alone. Only 1 in 10 American Indians survived. Those left were resource starved and attacked by the U.S. government. It’s so wonderful to see these beautiful young Apache girls celebrating!
checking out the commentary on this vid, I have somethings to say. First, WHO CARES where white people learn about Apache culture…JUST AS LONG AS THEY LEARN IT. Hopefully, WHEN they learn IT they HELP PRESERVE IT and all other tribes of North America. No one is better or worse than any others so, cut the crap about mie is better/worse than yours. That demeans us all! Last, I wish Morning Star Feather a great and long life. You earned it!
…..you should watch ‘What the Bleep Do We Know’ about Quantum Physics, very inspiring movie/doc. I agree that ‘God’ is not person. There’s no greater ignorance than making God in one’s own form. ‘God’ therefore it’s a power. Gravity and energy source. The Bible was written by man in Man’s word. A God would be beyond anything we can explain or express. Christians, Muslims and Jews etc are all WRONG. Have a faith, not a religion. Buddism will survive science, it has no god and doesn’t judge.
@locknez1munster: These are my traditions. I am N’De, otherwise known to you as Apache. I addressed inatorify as one Indian to another, and advised her to be respectful. Inatorify is also a little long in the tooth to undergo this ceremony, which is done within the year that a young girl begins her menses. In matters such as this, butt out.
actually many cultures, both ancient and recent, prolong childhood thru the teens even more so than the US…many cultures don’t view one as an adult till around age 20, and during the teen years a “child” does little to contribute to society…instead they play and have little responsibility…so perhaps the US isn’t as different or lax as you think…
There are more detailed ceremonial activities; which are not shown here. What you see in this article is okay…believe me there is more to the prayers and dancers in this four days ceremony…and the pre-work of gathering nuts and berries is not shown…basket making, cooking, obtaining feathers etc…a whole lot more.
I wish they would bring into this society the Native way of Initiating boys to men. There are a lot of men that don’t act like men. They are little boys in men’s bodies. Girls become woman when they get their blood(usually at 13). That is why they have the ceremony at that age. I think the ceremony is beauty and it makes the child into an adult in the society’s eyes.
“and (you’re) white skinned” well, la dee dah! There are several other countries in the world who have white skin. Are we deciphering people’s intellegence, morals, and worthiness by their skin color now? What does being caucasian have to do with anything? Should I respect you more or take your opinion more seriously? What? Are you just saying you’re white? Why?
What does the ritual consist of and what aspects of her fitness for adulthood do they test? 2) What is the “liminal phase” of a ritual? Do you see evidence of Dashina going through the “liminal” phase as discussed in this chapter? 3) What do you think would happen if she failed to dance all night for the ceremony? 3 sentences each
Lol! no, their spiritual growth has nothing to do with their education, however one can benefit the other! Honestly, they don’t fail. It’s hard to explain it. But there are so many relatives and well-wishers that when a girl becomes tired, there’s always encouragement near by. There’s always strength to tap into to push yourself further to continue dancing or running. Everyone wants the girl to become a woman and are there for her!
In a way… yes! Families must wait until their daughters get their first period to begin planning their Sunrise. So really… it’s up to God or the Creator to determine when womanhood begins. There’s usually a full year from when the first cycle begins and the sunrise dance is actually held. No, they don’t assert themselves as a WOMAN, but as a young woman. Ashonk to all my wonderful Apache women who have had the blessing of becoming Changing Woman during their ceremony!!
@ellenphant95 most aboriginal or indigenous peoples in the US prefer the term “Indians” as the word “native” refers to anyone born in America, thus “native” to the continent. It also high lights the fact that all Indian tribes were migratory over long periods of time due to relocation, forced resettlement or having been supplanted by other cultural groups. the term “Indian” gives them a distinct and individual description despite using the same name as the people in southern Asia
You seem to be guided more by information and experience than you are morals or ‘blind faith’. Thinking for yourself is not always possible… that is where religion usually has too much control. I agree and very much respect your argument, my position is ‘make the world better for those already in it without producing more unwanted people.’
I’m from Italy and how i could learn and appreciate Culture and teaching apart from books and “True” articles. It’s not only preserve, It’s understand that there is a way of living more respectful of the earth and the living being, and that’s the path we have to look for our future. Forgive my english i hope you understand
The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal. beep A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound. ding Remember to run in a straight line, and run as long as possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start. You feel like it’s easy at first. But you are so wrong. You run until you feel like you are going to die right there in the middle of the track, the same gym teacher yelling at you to keep going. But you just can’t do it. You make it back to your partner and collapse, breathing heavily. The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal. beep A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound. ding Remember to run in a straight line, and run as long as possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start. You feel like it’s easy at first. But you are so wrong. You run until you feel like you are going to die right there in the middle of the track, the same gym teacher yelling at you to keep going.
I know that I’m a social worker, and I work very hard with immigrants and low income individuals… it pisses me off when we are all stereotyped as ignorant a-holes who only care about ourselves, and hurt the environment, and that we aren’t culturally sensitive… many of us try to be these things.. but we aren’t in the world news
Kids today probably would not be able to survive without their cell phone. Some day they may have to. If boys are put through an initiation to celebrate their transformation to manhood and taught how to be mature, it would change a lot. Kids today are no shown how to except their responsibility. Someday it may be forced on them. I am not saying they should be put out into the wilderness for a week. I think they should be guided into knowledge.
@MagicTimeVideos Thank you very much for your insight. I will take that into consideration the next time I refer to this topic. Although it is my understanding that it is more politically correct to use the term Native American, I will more than likely use Indian because of the people’s preference. Again, thank you. ^_^