A Contextual History of Jicarilla Apache Cattle Ranching, 1846-1900

Abstract

This thesis examines the history of Jicarilla Apache cattle ranching from 1846 to 1900, analyzing how it served as a tool for tribal sovereignty, community resilience, and economic adaptation amid shifting political and economic pressures. U.S. policies and settler encroachment threatened Jicarilla Apache autonomy, cattle ranching emerged not as a passive imposition but as a strategic assertion of territorial control, economic self-sufficiency and agency. Grounded in archival research – including treaties, agency reports, and historical records – this study situates Jicarilla Apache ranching within the broader contexts of Indigenous resistance and adaptation to settler-colonial challenges. By incorporating Indigenous research methodologies and decolonizing frameworks such as survivance, relational accountability and critical Indigenous theory, this study prioritizes Jicarilla Apache perspectives and seeks to present their history with respect and accuracy. Findings demonstrate that cattle ranching was not merely an imposed economic transition but a deliberate strategy that reinforces Jicarilla Apache sovereignty, resilience and agency. While this research is limited by the availability of archival materials, it addresses a significant gap in the scholarship on Jicarilla Apache history, particularly regarding their early engagement with cattle ranching. Future studies incorporating oral histories and community-driven narratives would further illuminate Jicarilla perspectives. This thesis underscores the significance of Jicarilla Apache cattle ranching as far more than an economic endeavor, but as a deliberate assertion of sovereignty, resilience and self-determination. By reframing ranching as a strategic adaptation, this research challenges