Geronimo’s real name was actually “Goyahkla” or “Goyathlay,” which means “one who yawns” in his native language. He was given the name “Geronimo” by Mexican soldiers, who referred to him by the Spanish name “Jerónimo” during the Apache-Mexico Wars. The name stuck, and Geronimo became known by this name throughout the rest of his life.
Geronimo was born in 1829 near what is now present-day Arizona. He was a member of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, which at the time was living in a region that extended across modern-day Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.
As a young man, Geronimo quickly gained a reputation for his courage and strategic acumen as a warrior. He was involved in numerous raids and battles against Mexican and American forces, using his knowledge of the terrain and his ability to inspire his fellow warriors to fight fiercely against their enemies.
Geronimo’s resistance to American and Mexican forces began in the 1850s and continued for decades. He was involved in numerous conflicts, including the Apache Wars, which lasted from 1861 to 1886. During this time, Geronimo and his followers were pursued by thousands of U.S. troops, but they managed to evade capture for years, moving between Mexico and the United States.
In 1886, Geronimo and a group of his followers surrendered to U.S. troops after negotiations with General Nelson Miles. They were sent to a reservation in Florida, where they lived for several years before being relocated to Oklahoma.
After his surrender, Geronimo became something of a celebrity, appearing at various events and even the St. Louis World’s Fair. He also dictated his autobiography, which was published in 1906 and offered a unique perspective on Native American life and resistance.
Geronimo died on February 17, 1909, as a prisoner of war at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Today, he is remembered as a courageous leader who fought fiercely to protect his people and their way of life.
Trusted Warriors
Geronimo had many followers and warriors who fought alongside him in battles and raids throughout his life, and he was known for his ability to inspire his fellow Apache fighters to resist against their enemies. Some of his most prominent warriors included Naiche, Juh, Chato, and Loco, who were all respected leaders in their own right.
Naiche was Geronimo’s son-in-law and one of his most trusted lieutenants. He fought alongside Geronimo in many battles, including the final surrender to U.S. troops in 1886.
Juh was another prominent Apache leader who fought alongside Geronimo in the Apache Wars. He was known for his intelligence and strategic ability, and he played a key role in many battles against U.S. troops.
Chato was a Chiricahua Apache leader who fought alongside Geronimo in the 1870s and 1880s. He was known for his bravery and his ability to rally Apache fighters to resist against their enemies.
Loco was a prominent Apache leader who fought alongside Geronimo in the early years of the Apache Wars. He was known for his tactical ability and his bravery in battle.
These are just a few of the many warriors who fought alongside Geronimo and helped him to resist against American and Mexican forces throughout his life.
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I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees as other Indian babes. I was living peaceably when people began to speak bad of me. Now I can eat well, sleep well and be glad. I can go everywhere with a good feeling.
The soldiers never explained to the government when an Indian was wronged, but reported the misdeeds of the Indians. We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or to scheme against each other.
I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say.
When a child, my mother taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom and protection. Sometimes we prayed in silence, sometimes each one prayed aloud; sometimes an aged person prayed for all of us… and to Usen.
I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures.
Geronimo – Apache
Geronimo’s Song
by Geronimo (Goyathlay)
The song that I will sing is an old song, so old that none knows who made it. It has been handed down through generations and was taught to me when I was but a little lad. It is now my own song. It belongs to me. This is a holy song (medicine-song), and great is its power. The song tells how, as I sing, I go through the air to a holy place where Yusun (The Supreme Being) will give me power to do wonderful things. I am surrounded by little clouds, and as I go through the air I change, becoming spirit only.
Medicine Song – Sung by Geronimo
O, ha le
O, ha le!
Awbizhaye
Shichl hadahiyago niniya
O, ha le
O, ha le
Tsago degi naleya
Ah–yu whi ye!
O, ha le
O, ha le!
O, ha le
O, ha le!
Through the air
I fly upon the air
Towards the sky, far, far, far,
O, ha le
O, ha le!
There to find the holy place,
Ah, now the change comes o’re me!
O, ha le
O, ha le!
Geronimo – Apache
Geronimo died of pneumonia on February 17, 1909, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he had been living as a prisoner of war. He was in his 80s at the time of his death.
After his death, Geronimo was initially buried at Fort Sill’s Apache Indian Prisoner of War Cemetery. However, in the 1950s, his family requested that his remains be moved to a traditional Chiricahua Apache burial site in Arizona. Despite objections from the U.S. government and military officials, Geronimo’s remains were eventually moved to the site in 2009, over a century after his death.
Geronimo had several wives and children, but it is not clear how many descendants he has today. Some of his descendants have publicly expressed their concern over the way that Geronimo’s legacy has been portrayed in popular culture, particularly the use of his name as a code word during the operation that led to the capture of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
In recent years, some of Geronimo’s descendants have also been involved in legal battles to try to recover his remains, which were allegedly stolen by members of the secret society Skull and Bones, based at Yale University, in the early 20th century. The society is said to have kept Geronimo’s skull as a trophy, which has caused controversy and led to calls for its return to his descendants.
Despite the controversy surrounding his legacy and remains, Geronimo remains an important figure in Native American history and continues to be remembered and celebrated by many Indigenous communities today.