MESCALERO

Eastern Apache of south-central New Mexico who formerly also had bands in the Davis Mountains of Texas and to the south in the Mexican state of Chihuahua (see Apache). The name Mescalero is taken from the mescal (peyote) cactus (species Lophophora williamsii), which provided fibre, food, and drink to these essentially hunting-and-gathering people. The Mescalero borrowed some elements of Plains Indian culture, such as the tepee. Like the other Apachean groups, the Mescalero lacked any centralized tribal organization. The primary organizational unit was the band, which was in turn split into smaller local groups. The bands were small enough so that every individual was aware of his kinship with most if not all other members. Though as a group they were not noted for their wars with pioneers, some Mescalero, such as Gomez and Chihuahua, resisted encroachment of the settlers. Geronimo's Chiricahua faction included Mescalero, but many Mescalero served as scouts for the frontiersmen.