start of this volume, Edward S. Curtis introduces his mission to document the rapidly vanishing cultures of Native Americans, highlighting the deep connection between the tribes and their natural environments. He describes the extensive fieldwork undertaken to gain the trust of Apache communities and collect their myths, rituals, and customs. Curtis emphasizes the artistic and spiritual dimensions of Indian life, sharing insights into their creation myths and ceremonial practices while reflecting on the impending loss of these cultures due to modernization and colonization. The opening sets a powerful tone for the exploration of Apache beliefs, their social structures, and everyday lives through the lenses of both photography and in-depth narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)