About Us
We are the Chihene Nde Nation of New Mexico, a tribe of 425 adult members, from here further referred to as Chiende, which is how we refer to ourselves. We are known from historical times as the Mimbreno-Apache, Southern Apaches, Rio Mimbres and Rio Gila Apache Bands, Mimbres Bands of Gila Apache, Coppermine Apache, Chihenne-Apache, Gila-Apache, Hot Springs-Apache, Mimbrenyo-Apache or Mogollon-Apache, and Bedonkohe-Apache who were farming under treaties with Spain, Mexico, and the United States.
The U.S. produced three treaties specific to our ancestors -1852, 1853, and 1855. The Chihene Nde Nation of New Mexico comprises the previously federally acknowledged tribe listed in various ways above and on the 1941 Smithsonian’s List of Indian Tribes who treated and received rations with the approval of the New Mexico Territory Governor from the U.S. and are now pursuing federal-acknowledgment under the modern definition overseen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgment. We are an independent nation of Apache survivors who have maintained tribal political influence and have substantially inhabited our homelands despite land dispossession. Unfortunately, we were left without a permanent reservation.
Our territoriality, band affiliation, and our specific governmental structure of leaders demonstrate our self-determination, which in turn was recognized by Territory of New Mexico Governor David Meriwether and the U.S. Government through the mechanisms of treaties, provisions, and documented tribal leaders and rolls, all characteristics defining a sovereign Indian nation. Our desire to live in peace in our homelands is aligned with our sovereignty and ecosystem sustainability. These leadership decisions of our ancestors forged a distinct identity among us with different social practices from other regional resistant bands. The Petitioner’s members are not members of any other Indian tribes. However, the increasing number of settlers searching for agricultural lands and mineral deposits in our homelands compromised our Chiende families' political, economic, and cultural well-being.
The Chihene Nde Nation of New Mexico was incorporated in May of 2011. We were formerly known as the Chihene Nde Warm Springs Band of Chiricahua Apaches from October 2009 to May 2011. To review status with the NM PRC click on the Articles of Incorporation and enter our NMPRC # 4439774. We were awarded our tax exemption status pursuant to section 501 (c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code on March 30, 2012.
Chihene Nde Nation of New Mexico consist of a Board of Directors (Tribal Council). This is the governance council of this organization. We have over 500 hundred members and continue to receive applications for membership. Our Membership requirements and qualifications are listed and available on this site. You can download applications from this site, located in the "Enrollment" website when enrollment reopens.
