Talk:Mexican period of Arizona

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What are "Apache peace camps" maintained by either the Spanish or Mexican governments? To the best of my knowledge the Spanish did not have reservations, but used indentured servants or slaves or serfs (depending upon your perspective and the practices of the time). Deleting this phrase and link (which says peace camps started in the 1900's.) --Rcollman (talk) 12:51, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

I found at least one reference about Ysleta del Sur Pueblo located in El Paso, established around 1790. "The presidio was also created to encourage the region's Apaches to settle in "peace camps" ("Apaches de Paz") to become peaceful, sedentary farmers and Christian converts, dependent on the Spanish Crown. According the program's regulations, the Apache settlements had to be served by a mission for their conversion and salvation. Thus, San Elizario had not only a presidial chapel, but an Apache Mission." http://www.ysletadelsurpueblo.org/tigua_trails.sstg?id=16&sub1=23&sub2=54

The key words here are "for their conversion and salvation". There is at least one historian who compares records of number of baptisms and raids by Spanish military and millitia units over centuries along the Rio Grande. The "success" of the peace camps probably has more to do other factors than the relabeling of a common century old practice (in my opinion any way). I would also note that "Apache" might not mean the same thing to the Spanish in 1790 as it does to others centuries later. --Rcollman (talk) 12:53, 25 November 2007 (UTC)