Notes on Nedhni ethnogenesis

[jikou]

After I read a book by B. Griffen „Apaches at war and peace“, I no longer consider term „Nedhni“ as ethnicity. As a matter of fact, Nedhnis are results of Spanish and later Mexican social experiment taking place in 4 waves since 1789 and 11 spots , composed from Tséghátahéndé (Segatajenné, later Cochise Apaches)and Chihennes mainly, but also containing a small number of Bedonkohe and unknown number of Pinals as well. (This explains why Juan José Compá is referred as Mimbrenjo as well as Nedhni chief.) Nedhnis and Spanish were bound by treaty: both had to keep peace, Apaches had to hold in vicinity of appointed places seeded in big crescent of spots from Arizpe to Carrizal, help as scouts against enemies, Spanish had to provide supply of food and necessary goods and make school education available for Apache elite families children (Compá family members, for example, were literate). Early Nedhnis were Mimbrenjo chieftains Squielnoctero (Janeros) and Mantas Negras (Carrizalenjos). Regarding ethnical composition, Sonoran spots were purely Tséghátahéndé, Janos mix of Tséghátahéndé majority with Chihenne minority, Carrizal with prevailing Chihennes. How political and economic situation changed – Napoleonic wars in Europe is a good example – there were no money to supply Apaches and treaty dissolved and enmity was restored. As time passed by, Nedhnis became a people of two cultures and thereby enemies able to use all Indian as well as Spanish skills. Fronterras managed by unknown Apachean group in time of Mexican wars 1846-1848 is unbelievable proof of that.
11 inhabited spots bands were lumped as Janeros and Carrizalenjos by 1796, but there were also Nedhni Pinalenjos after treaty disrupt moving to Aros River vicinity in very wild Sierra Madre, a place of later Geronimo escaping, and possibly other groups.
Also Chilpaine Mescaleros, Tsebekinéndé from Nueva Casas Grandes, were subject of “Nedhni” experiment, they settled along Janeros and later moved to Aqua Nueva maybe together with Tsehitcihéndé. Aqua Nuevas Mescaleros strengthen after end of peaceful collaboration Trans Pecos Mescaleros (Chisos Apaches), where effect of “nation of two cultures” is observable on many sovereign chiefs as Alzate, Marco, Gomez and many others.

[chi1]

Ethnicity not differentiate between Mimbreños (chihene), carrizaleros, aguas nuevas, tséghátahéndé, etc. remember that ethnicity is Nde or Ndeh, the names were given or were taken to differentiate the clans, and although it is nomadic, had a certain territory, briefly defined, but this was the pattern for the formation and disappearance of families, alliances and full clans, consider that as such, the Nedhni emerged from these alliances have been familiar, strategic, political or casual.

[jikou]

Thanks for your post. I meant rather "tribal affiliation" or distiction , not ethnicity.