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Discover the Lipan Apache Tribe: Top 3 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

illustration of the-lipan-apache-tribe
Get ready to be amazed as you journey into the fascinating world of the Lipan Apache tribe, discovering intriguing tidbits and lesser-known gems about their rich history and vibrant culture.

1. Waterproof Basket Business

Basket weavers gone wild: The Jicarilla, a branch of the Lipan Apache tribe, dabbled in water-resistant haberdashery during the mid-1900s by creating watertight, pine pitch-covered "water baskets." Proving they were also the Martha Stewarts of their day, their work in artful sumac and willow basketry served up a mix of practicality and style, while tickling the fancy of tourists and filling their wallets with some extra cash from these unconventional but versatile vessels.
Source => toh-atin.com

2. Lipan's Linguistic Mystery

Much like a linguistic game of hide and seek, the Lipan Apache tribe's language stayed well hidden from many ears: Their near-extinct Lipan language is an Eastern Southern Athabaskan relative to the Jicarilla language, and was spoken by just 2 or 3 elderly individuals in New Mexico in 1981. Today, they opt for more universal means of communication, like English, Spanish, and other Native American languages.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Horse Trading Hustlers

From Master Traders of Westeros to expert horse hustlers in good ol' Texas: the Lipan Apache tribe established trade alliances with Indian tribes and Mexican citizens to acquire guns and ammunition for survival, selling horses to south Texas settlers, and partnering with Mexican smugglers and warlords for one of the wildest markets in the West.
Source => lipanapache.org

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