Women's Historical Patterns of Land Utilization on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Working towards a More Inclusive Picture of the Past: Archaeology, Archives, and Historically Underrepresented Communities in Cultural Resources Management" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

During 2021-2022, the Bureau of Indian Affairs sponsored a Cultural Landscape Survey on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in Northern New Mexico, covering over 9,000 acres as part of a forestry and fuels project. This survey provided valuable insights into land use during the early reservation days, revealing patterns of land occupation and usage that shed light on the historical lifestyle and practices of the Jicarilla Apache. Cultural features on the landscape allowed researchers to link patent dates to utilization patterns. Notably, many early reservation patent holders among the Jicarilla Apache were women, highlighting their significant role in the community. This aspect of their history underscores the matrilineal elements within their society, traceable through archival records. Documenting women’s land ownership reveals shifts in gender dynamics, economic practices, and legal recognition of traditional roles. The patterns of land utilization on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, particularly as seen from archaeological features and patents held by women, reveal a rich tapestry of cultural and social dynamics.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Working towards a More Inclusive Picture of the Past: Archaeology, Archives, and Historically Underrepresented Communities in Cultural Resources Management

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53769