Apache people gave places-names in order to inform people of there past, as well as to show respect for the land in which they lived on for so many years. Charles Henry, Bassos friends and Apache informant, describes his ancestors naming process, “this place may help us survive. If we settle this country we must be able to speak about this place and remember it clearly and well. We must give it a name.” (12)The story behind the place-name ‘Snake Water’ is an exceptional example of how the environment shaped the culture of the Apache people. Snakes water, now a barren piece of bedrock, was once a place where Apache people came for water and the people were very grateful that it was there. They gave offerings of thanks to the water and they said, “this water is good, it is good that it is here for us.” (15) Because of reasons not known, ‘Snake water’ dried up and this greatly distresses the Apache people. Charles speculated that his ancestors were too greedy and wasteful with the water and that is why it disappeared. Charles tells the story of his ancestors, “Our holy people must work on this for us, they must help us make amends to Water. They must ask Water to take pity on us.” (17)This specific place-name is relevant in expressing the Apaches past relationship they once had with water. It expresses the gratitude they had for water and at the same time taught the lesson of always giving thanks, not being greedy or wasteful with the water in which they were given.Place-name are responsible for giving an identity to the Apache people. The story of ‘Juniper Tree Stands Alone People’ is an example of how Apache ancestors were connected to the places in which they lived. Where the junipers trees grew long ago is the very place where early Apache clans settled. It was a place where plenty of corn grew and sustained then for many years. This shows that the namin...
