Land of the People: Ndende bì Ke’ya
Featuring the Mescalero Apache Tribe
April 4, 2026 – June 27, 2026 | Branigan Cultural Center
Within the Land of the People: Shimba Tainin kau natheure wein – Tierra Sagrada – Ndende bì Ke’ya – Naf’ole atsihem – Nde benah – Ndee Biyááh exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center, a special, changing gallery space allows each Indigenous group to go deeper into their unique stories. From April 4 through June 27, 2026, we are featuring the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Opening Reception
An opening reception for the Mescalero Apache Tribe exhibit, Land of the People: Ndende bì Ke’ya, is scheduled for:
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe will perform social dances and songs. There will be vendors with items available for purchase.
About the Mescalero Apache Tribe
The Mescalero Apache have long resided in southern New Mexico, moving seasonally across the desert, grasslands, mountains, and river valleys. Their movements were grounded by their four sacred mountains: Sierra Blanca, Guadalupe, Oscura/Selinas, and the Three Sisters. The Mescalero Apache Reservation is the southernmost Federal reservation in the state. It was formally established through an Executive Order by President Ulysses S. Grant on May 29, 1873.
Today, the Mescalero Apache Tribe consists of three sub-tribes, the Mescalero, and incorporated Lipan Apache, and Chiricahua Apache, with over 5,000 Tribal members from each band residing on the reservation. Throughout the year, the Mescalero continue to celebrate many ceremonies, including the Coming-of-Age Ceremony every Fourth of July.
