Apache Indians lived differently from Tuscarora Indians in other ways. The eastern Apaches lived in "teepees" or brush dwelling, which had a teepee-like frame, while the western group lived in wickiups built on a domed frame of wooden poles bent over and tied together at the top. The Tuscarora mythology was not as important to the Tuscarora Indians as the Apache religion to the Apaches.

How did the European or American settlers affect them?

European settlers affected both the Apache Indians and the Tuscarora Indians. In general, contact with Europeans exposed Indians to disease, Indian slavery, warfare, and forced migration.  Forced migration had a huge effect on both the Tuscarora and the Apache.

Tuscarora Indians usually faced Europeans from England, while the Apaches mainly dealt with Europeans from Spain. In both cases, when settlers arrived, they often tried to live in areas already occupied by Indians. For the Tuscarora Indians, this meant that the Indians had to move to a new place and, when they moved, they had to contend with other tribes who did not want to deal with newcomers. This caused conflict between Indians. Europeans benefited from these conflicts because they could become settled into an area while the Indians argued and fought each other. Sometimes, Europeans promoted war between Indians.

Europeans also took land from the Tuscarora and other Indians by force. In 1713, the defeat of the Tuscarora opened up the coast and eastern piedmont of North Carolina to the Europeans. After their defeat, some Tuscarora moved north to join the Iroquois.  The Iroquois Nation was made up of five tribes: the Mohawks, the Onondagos, the Senecas, the Oneidas, and the Cayugas. These five tribes were known as the Five Nations. When the Tuscarora Indians joined them, they were called the Six Nations.

Like the Apache, many northern Tuscarora Indians were forced to live on reservations.  Some Tuscarora stayed in North Carolina, but they were quickly merged into the Cherokee and the Lumbee tribes.  From this, the Tuscarora Indians began to have problems with their identity that continue today.

Similarly, when the Apaches came into contact with Europeans, they were scattered from western Arizona to central Texas and western Kansas. Since the Apache Indians were not as fully settled in one area as the Tuscarora, the Apaches might have found it easier to adjust to the settlers. They also understood the land, animals, and climate of the west.  For these reasons, the Spanish, the Mexicans, and later American armies did not enjoy fighting the Apache. Still, they treated the Apache in brutal ways. For instance, the Spanish and the Mexicans would scalp Apaches for money. The British and the French also did this. Somehow, the story has been told as if the Apaches were scalping "defenseless" settlers and American citizens.

Like the Tuscarora Indians, the Apache Indians fought to keep their land and way of life. The Apaches had brave warriors and leaders fighting for them, like Cochise and Geronimo. But, also like the Tuscarora, the Apache Indians were forced to leave by the United States government. In 1871, reservations were set up for the Apache. Unfortunately, the reservations contained poor land and there was not enough space for hunting and gathering. In 1885, Geronimo escaped an Apache reservation with a group of Chiricahua Indians.  They went to Mexico. The next year, they were captured and Geronimo found out that all the Apache would be shipped as prisoners to Florida.

What are these tribes like now, what problems do they face, and how does European settlement still affect them?

Today, most Tuscarora live in New York State or in Ontario, Canada. Only a few live in North Carolina. The Tuscarora in New York generally live on their own reservations because of American settlement. They no longer live in longhouses. Instead, they live in modern houses and apartment buildings.  But their tribal traditions are still used. The Tuscarora clan mothers still elect the council of chiefs. The United States government, through Congress, has a lot of power of the Tuscarora.  Indians are considered citizens of their tribe or Nation and also citizens of the United States. Their religion has changed, since they are generally Christian.  Their style of dress includes tee shirts and jeans and they speak English just like the average United States citizen.

After losing control over their land, Tuscarora Indians faced problems of identity. The Tuscarora of North Carolina did not have to live on reservations. But, unlike the Apache who were always known as "Apache", the Tuscarora who stayed in North Carolina have struggled for recognition as "Tuscarora Indians". In 1885, the North Carolina legislature lumped the Lumbee Indians and the Tuscarora into a group called "Croatan". In 1911, the Lumbee and the Tuscarora were called "Indians of Robeson County". In 1913, they were called "Cherokee Indians of Robeson County".  In the 1970s, the Tuscarora Indians finally worked to become known as a separate tribe from the Lumbee and the Cherokee.  They are still working to fully reach this goal.

The Apache continue to live in Arizona and New Mexico where a lot of their farming techniques are wasted. Like the Tuscarora, the tribes wear "normal" American clothes and do not have many ceremonial gatherings. Another important and cultural problem is in religion. The churches are trying to convert all of the Apaches to Christianity.  The Apaches were always tied to their religious beliefs, so they are still trying to keep their faith although the odds are against them.

The Apache also experience problems that affect all Indians as a whole. They are affected by the stereotypes of Indians on television and in movies, and also a high unemployment rate. Although Apache reservations have casinos, the casinos do not offer much employment while the Apache themselves are usually the customers who are gambling. Diabetes, alcoholism, and drug abuse are the main health problems they face. Some studies estimate that about forty percent of the Apache people are diabetic, and many more have drug and alcohol problems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Tuscarora and Apache Indians live different lives today than they did before European contact. They now face a struggle for identity and survival because they were forced to move from their homelands and forced to change their way of life. The Tuscarora struggle to be recognized as a tribe. The Apache struggle to preserve their heritage. It is interesting how these two tribes can be similar and different at the same time.