Apache culture

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So how do you make an arrow that flies?  How do you make an arrow without using a dowel?  In this post, Sam begins his tutorial on how he makes his completely functional arrows.

It starts with the arrow weed which he harvests from along the San Carlos Lake.

wild arrow weed

Sam then chooses the right plants to cut.  You can barley see San Carlos Lake behind him.  The water is very, very low right now.

arrow weed

He cuts the plant off near ground level.

cutting the arrow weed

A bundle of arrow weed.

freshly cut arrow weed

The weeds are then trimmed and carried home.  The mountains in the background are known as The Triplets.

bundle of arrow weed

In upcoming posts Sam will complete the arrow making process.

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Every year over labor day weekend, the White Mountain Apache Tribe holds its annual Fair and Rodeo.  A parade is held every Saturday.  Here are some pictures from the parade:

native american veterans

native american veterans

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Besides etsy, the high country gallery, or making a direct request, you can find Sam’s arrowheads at the Ft. Apache Culture Center.    The Culture Center and Museum is located within the Historic Fort Apache.

While you’re there, you can take a self guided walking tour of the Fort.

Kinishba Ruins are a short drive down the road.  The Kinishba ruins are the remains of an ancient puebloan society similar to Chaco Canyon.

crown dancer

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5 Places to Visit in Arizona’s White Mountains

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Sam makes his arrows completely by hand and with materials he gathered himself except for glue and sinew.

He knaps the arrowheads, which means he uses stone, antler and copper tools to flake the rock into an arrowhead.  It is not carved.

The arrow shafts are from a lake plant he gathers himself, strips, and lets dry.  After it is dry he straightens them using heat.  Even so, the arrow shafts are not perfectly smooth like a dowel.

The turkey feathers from turkeys he hunted himself must also be stripped and then applied to the arrow shaft.  They are then wrapped with sinew.

The arrowheads are attached with sinew as well.

turquoise arrow

turquoise arrow

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Sam made this mahogany obsidian knife again with cholla cactus skeleton handle and stand.  It has the added interest of an arrowhead embedded in the stand from the same material.

mahogany obsidian knife

mahogany obsidian knife

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This is a smokey black obsidian knife blade with a touch of mahogany.  A carved deer antler handle makes it complete.

Sam uses copper and antler tools to work his knife blades and arrowheads.  The antler came from right here on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.

black obsidian knife

black obsidian knife

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Sam made this knife blade out of black obsidian that has clear and mahogany spots in it.  It should be mounted on a handle soon.  Be looking for his store on Etsy.  I’ll publish a link when it’s up and running.

apache obsidian knife blade

apache obsidian knife blade

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Old photos of historic Apache leaders and Apache people on coffee cups.  These are fun to make.

apache women

apache women

Sam has been fishing up a storm.  Here is his latest catch.  Fishing is good in the White Mountains of Arizona.  The area is most noted for rainbow trout, brook trout, German brown trout, and Apache trout.  But, catfish, bass and crappie are also to be found.

apache catfish

apache catfish

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Here’s an obsidian spear head from jet black obsidian.

obsidian spear

obsidian spear

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