Yavapai Indian Tribe
Yavapai. According to the Handbook of
American Indians (Hodge, 1907, 1910, from enyaéva,
"sun," and pai, "people," and thus signifying "people of the sun," but the
southeastern Yavapai interpreted it to mean "crooked-mouth people," that is, a
"sulky" people who do not agree with other peoples (fide Gifford, 1936).
Apache Mohaves, in Rep. Office Ind. Aff., 1869, p. 92; 1870.
Apaches, by Garcés in 1775-76
(Diary, p. 446, 1900) ; also by Spaniards. Cruzados, by Oñate
in 1598 (Col. Doc. Ined., vol. 16, p. 276, 1864-84).
Dil-zha, by White (MS.); Apache name meaning "Indians living where
there are red ants."
E-nyab-va Pai, by Ewing (1892, p. 203), meaning "sun people" because
they were sun worshipers.
Gohún, by Ten Kate, (1884, p.
5), Apache name.
Har-dil-zhays, by White (1875 MS.), Apache name.
Harrington (1908, p. 324), Walapai name.
Jum-pys, by Heintzelman, (1857, p. 44)
Kohenins, by Corbusier (1886, p. 276), Apache name.
Ku-we-vĕ-ka pai-ya, by Corbusier
(MS., p. 27); said to be own name, because they live in the south.
Nyavapai, by Corbusier (1886, p. 276).
Taros, by Garcés in 1775-76
(Diary, p. 446, 1900), Pima name.
Yampaos, by Whipple (1856, p. 103).
The Yavapai belonged to the Yuman
branch of the Hokan linguistic family, their closest
cultural affiliations being with the Havasupai and Walapai.
In western Arizona from the Pinal
and Mazatzal Mountains to the country of the
Halchidhoma and Chemehuevi in the neighborhood of Colorado River and from
Williams and Santa Maria Rivers, including the valleys of the smaller
branches, to the neighbor-hood of the Gila River.
Gifford gives the following:
A. Kewevikopaya or Southeastern Yavapai, which included
the Walkamepa Band (along the southerly highway from Miami to Phoenix via
Superior), and the Wikedjasapa Band (along the present Apache trail
highway from Phoenix to Miami via Roosevelt Dam).
These included the
following exogamous bands: Limited to the Walkamepa Band: Ilihasitumapa
(original home in the Pinal Mountains); limited to the Wikedjasapa Band:
Amahiyukpa (claiming as their homeland the high mountains on the west side
of the Verde River, just north of Lime Creek and directly opposite the
territory of the Yelyuchopa Clan), Atachiopa (who originated in the
mountains west of Cherry), Hakayopa (whose inland homeland was Sunflower
Valley, south of Mazatzal Peak, high in the Mazatzal Mountains, and west
of Fort Reno in the Tonto Basin), Hichapulvapa (whose country was the
Mazatzal Mountains southward from the East Verde River and westward from
North Peak and Mazatzal Peak); represented in both bands: Iiwilkamepa
(who considered the mountainous country between the Superstition and Pinal
Mountains as their homeland), Matkawatapa (said to have originated from
intermarriage between people of the Walkamepa Band and Apache from the
Sierra Ancha), Onalkeopa (whose original homeland was in the Mazatzal
Mountains between the lands of the Hichapulvapa and Yelyuchopa clans but
who moved later south into the territory of the Walkamepa Band),
Yelyuchopa (who claimed as their homeland the Mazatzal Mountains between
the territories of the Hakayopa and Hichapulvapa clans). Cuercomache (on
one of the heads of Diamond Creek, near the Grand Canyon of the Colorado)
is given as a village. Amanyikt, was the principal camp site of the
Wikedjasapa south of the Salt River.
B. Yavepe or Northeastern Yavapai, including:
a. Yavepe proper (claiming upper Verde Valley and the mountains
on either side, including the Montezuma National Monument), whose
bands were: Wipukupa (occupying caves in Redrock country, probably
in the region designated as Red Buttes on maps, and descending Oak
Creek to plant maize in certain moist fiats and to gather mesquite
in Verde Valley), Matkitwawipa (people of upper Verde Valley, East
Verde River, Fossil Creek, Clear Creek, ranging south to Cave Creek,
and Walkey-anyanyepa (people of the massif to which Jerome clings).
b. Mat-haupapaya (inhabiting the massif from Prescott to Crown King
and Bumble Bee), and including: Wikutepa (the Granite Peak Band) and
Wikenichapa (the Black Mountains or Crown King Band).
C. Tolkepaya or Western Yavapai, including: Hakupakapa or
Inyokapa (inhabitants of mountains north of Congress); Hakehelapa
Wiltaikapaya (people of Harquahala and Harcuvar Mountains on either side
of Wiltaika (Salome); People's Valley, Kirkland Valley (upper drainage of
Hassayampa Creek near Wickenburg and region around Hillside) ;
Haka-whatapa or Matakwarapa (who formerly lived at La Paz and Castle
Gifford (1936) states that "the
earliest probable mention" of the Yavapai "is by Luxan of
the Espejo expedition, who in 1582—1583 apparently visited only the
country of the Northeastern Yavapai." In 1598 Marcos Farfan de los Godos
met them and called them Cruzados because they wore small crosses on their
heads, and in 1604 Juan de Oñate also
visited them, as did Father Francisco Games in 1776, after which time
contact with Europeans was pretty regular. They were removed to the Verde
River Agency in May 1873. In 1875 they were placed on the San Carlos
Apache Agency, but by 1900 most of the tribe had settled in part of their
old home on the Verde River, including the abandoned Camp McDowell
Military Reservation, which was assigned to their use, November 27, 1901,
by the Secretary of the Interior, until Congress should take final action.
By Executive Order of September 15, 1903, the old reservation was set
aside for their use, and the claims of the white settlers purchased under
Act of April 21, 1904.
Mooney (1928) estimates 600
Yavapai in 1680. Gifford's (1936) estimate would about double that, though he
does not believe they ever exceeded 1500. In 1873 they were said to number about
1,000 and in 1903 between 500 and 600. In 1906, 520 were reported, 465 at Camp
McDowell and Upper Verde Valley, and 55 at San Carlos. In 1910, 289 were
reported by the Census, but the same year the Indian Office reported 178 under
the Camp McDowell School
Superintendent, 282 under the Camp Verde School, and 89 under the San
Carlos School; total, 549. In 1823 the Indian Office reported 708 under
the Camp Verde School and Salt River Superintendencies. In 1932 the Indian
Office reported only 193, but the "Yuma Apache" would add 24. In 1937
there, were 194.
Connection in which they have
Havasupai.) The name has been perpetuated in
that of Yavapai County, Ariz.
Notes About the Book:
Source: The Indian Tribes of North America, by John R. Swanton, 1953, Bureau of
American Ethnology, Bulletin 145, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC.
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing
has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual