This is my simple Mescalero Apache Nativity
with Wise Men or Kings, from other tribes
living close by, a Pawnee, a Yaqui and a
Navajo.
Take the angel away and it is just a
gathering of tribal neighbors.
Mescalero Apache Nativity
The Mescalero Apache live in northeastern New
Mexico, and some are living in Arizona, and they used
to live in grass and small tree limbed rounded or open
faced ‘wickiups’. This nativity has a combination tipi
shaped wickiup, covered with traded canvas cloth, for
better insulation. This was a later development in
housing. The horse carries bags and a cooking kettle
on his back as he rests.
Mary wears the traditional camp dress with a flowered
shawl. She brings a woven water pitcher to offer to her
guests. Her baby is leaning against a rock, sheltered
inside a cradle board with a small medicine bag and
feathers on it, for his protection.
The Angel is dressed similarly, an Indian medicine bag
hangs over her shoulder. The moccasins with circular
toe flaps, typical of the Apache, show on the angel. The
women wear Pueblo traded necklaces.
Joseph and the Horse Wrangler (ie. Shepherd) wear
clothing from the missionary boxes. Their pants were
often cut into leggings and covered with the traditional
breech cloth. Joseph wears a hat and the Wrangler, a
cloth head wrap. He wears a blanket over his shoulders
and holds a rope.
The first Wise Man is Yaqui, originally from northern
Mexico and now in Tucson, Arizona. He is a Deer
Dancer, who covers his eyes with that white kerchief in
his hands and then ties the red ribboned deer head
atop his head and dances. ( Many people ask about
that deer head on his blanket and now you know.) He
sits with his woven water vessel on a Mexican blanket
next to a gift, a stone ‘metate’ (meh-TAH-tay) from
Mexico, for Mary to use to grind her corn.
The second Wise Man is a Pawnee. His head is
wrapped, he wears no shirt and he has beaded
moccasins on his feet. He has a silver Presidential
Peace Medal on a necklace. He holds a large ax, which
he has brought as his gift for Joseph to use.
The third Wise Man is Navajo from New Mexico.
Dressed in traditional clothing, a velvet shirt over cotton
pants and high-topped moccasins with light colored
soles, sitting on a very simplified Navajo blanket with his
gifts of a small lamb and a pair of Navajo moccasins.
I hope that this nativity brings joy and happiness and
knowledge of others into your home.
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