A Sovereign Tribal Nation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe is located in the east central region of Arizona, 194 miles northeast of Phoenix. Located on the Apache, Gila and Navajo Counties, the White Mountain Apaches reside on 1.6 million acres at its ancestral homeland on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. On November 9, 1891, by Executive Order the Fort Apache Indian Reservation was established. It is now known as the White Mountain Apache Reservation. It originally included the San Carlos Apache Reservation but was separated by an act of Congress in 1897. The White Mountain Apache are the direct descendants of the original tribes that lived in this area. The people were once nomadic, however, they now occupy permanent dwellings and depend on livestock, agriculture, tourism and various tribal enterprises for their livelihood. White Mountain Apaches hold dearly to their traditions--from their strong beliefs, the long free-handing shirt (adopted in 1870), to the Crown Dance and basketry. Traditional girl puberty ceremonies, aka "Sunrise Dance", binds clans over the summer, starting in early May.
