T
APACHE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS DANCE
his dance of the Apaches started out life in the Anglo world as the Apache Devil Dance. Probably an Apache tried to explain what the dance was for and the part that stuck was it’s use in controlling evil spirits. Evil spirits become devils, and the black masks help to foster that idea. Then they were told is was more properly the Crown Dance because of the saguaro stick headdresses. That wasn’t exactly right, so the name was changed
THIS SPECTACULAR GROUP OF APACHE DEVIL DANCERS HAS A BOY CLOWN.
Since Navajos and Apaches are applied Ghan Dance, though that is not nearly as evocative as the Devil essentially the same people, it is not or Crown variations. The Eastern surprising they share deities in common, including White Shell woman’s children, Apaches call them Gaa’he. the monster slayers who made it safe for As masked entities they are in the same class as Pueblo Katsinas, or Navajo Yeis. The man in the costume “becomes” the spirit, or personification of a certain power. These spirits protect the People from illness, famine, THESE GUYS SHOW OFF THEIR SWORDS. drought, and other dangers. to Mountain Spirits Dance. While it was formidable nicer, it still smacked of devils in Anglo They also protect THIS PHOTO FROM 1887 SEEMS TO SHOW BOY DEVIL minds. Today it is called the properly people on a personal level. DANCERS.
