D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May
2009
Hiking Apacheria: Faces & Names
Page: 3I climbed that ridge finger and found what appeared to be breastworks long overgrown with grasses. At the base of the rimrock, there were, sure enough, a dozen red painted pictographs. I thanked the spirits who led me there.
In the tall grass that had grown over the breastworks, I found a small stone that looked different from all the stones around it. I don't know if the stone had significance for anyone, but it spoke to me. I don't know if it is or is not an Apache stone, nor whether any Apache ever touched it. If so, I think it likely it was an ornament or piece of good luck object, since it has smooth sides.
The location of this place is in the heartland of Victorio, Lozen, Nana, Loco and Cuchillo Negro. It is not likely to have been used or touched by any of those who surrendered with Geronimo. It doesn't matter. I will carry it with me from now on.
I believe I was led to this particular fighting position, on this particular day, on a casual drive out of Caada Alamosa, without any knowledge before hand of where to stop, much less, where to look. How was that possible? Why even investigate? You have your theories; I have mine.
For some reason, it has felt very important for me to provide as complete a listing of names and faces of these men and women as I can. Their lives were no less or more important than those of our relatives. They had hopes and dreams, too.
For me, it is my way to say: "Here are some of them! Here are some of their names!" Do you see them? Will you sound out their names to honor their spirits? Look at how individualistically they dressed. Would you ever have guessed Apaches could "accessorize" so cleverly, as a friend of mine recently suggested? Look deeper into their faces. Do you see their humanity? Can you sense their individual essence? Can you understand what terror they also brought?
Can you imagine some of them killing violently, viciously, brutally?
They were here and now they are gone, as are our ancestors.
This is the 16th article in Jerry Eagan's "Hiking Apacheria" series; to read the complete series, see www.desertexposure.com/apacheria To learn more about "Hiking Apacheria," contact Eagan at skyminder.eagan805@gmail.com or visit his new website, www.hikingapacheria.com He is working on a book that will collect the articles in this series, and on selling photographs of Apacheria.
Special thanks to: Barry Drucker, archivist, New Mexico State Records Center and Archives; Karl Laumbach; Dalton Estes; Eddy Montoya; Keith Odenheim, administrator, Doa Ana County GIS Division; Denny and Trudy O'Toole; Sherry and Steve Robinson; and, of course, lovely Dorothy Eagan.