The Yavapai-Apache Nation is located in the Upper Verde
Valley of central Arizona off of I-17, 90 miles north of
Phoenix and 50 miles south of Flagstaff.

The modern Nation is the amalgamation of two historically
distinct Tribes both of whom occupied the Upper Verde prior
to European invasion. The Western Apache group calling
themselves, Dilzhe'e and popularly known as the "Tonto
Apache" utilized the lands to the north, east and south;
while the Yavapai's known as Wipukyipaya were using country
to the north, the west and the south. It was the Upper Verde
where they overlapped.

After short, brutal wars with the government a Military
Reserve of 900 square miles was established in 1871 to
accommodate both groups. However, this Reserve was rescinded
by Presidential Order in 1875 and all of the people, Yavapai
and Apache alike, numbering around 1,700, were forcibly
marched to the San Carlos agency east of Phoenix. By the
late 1890's the reservation system was breaking down and
beginning in 1900 the survivors of the removal began drifting
back to their home country in small family groups. In 1909
a postage stamp reservation was established in Camp Verde,
followed by additional parcels in Middle Verde, Clarkdale
and Rimrock. Today the descendants of these stalwart Yavapai
and Apache people live in communities totaling about 600 acres.

The Upper Verde Valley is characterized by chalky white
limestone cliffs carved over the centuries by the Verde River.
The Valley is surrounded by high country and enjoys an Upper
Sonoran climate and vegetation. The flood plain and stream
wash deposits are important as resources for farming and the
recovery of sand and gravels. The Nation also runs a Tribal
herd on lease lands.

Currently the Nation is focusing on social services, education,
acquiring more land for housing and economic development based
on heritage tourism and construction of a shopping center. A
new cultural center for the Nation is underway at this time.
It will house the offices of Yavapai and Apache Cultural
Preservation as well as language program and the Tribal
collections.