GERONIMO A NATIVE AMERICAN SELLOUT
WILLIAM MARTIN
HISTORY 223
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
REBECCA BUTLER 15 MAR 2015
GOYAHKLA A NATIVE AMERICAN LEGEND:
GERONIMO A NATIVE AMERICAN SELLOUT An age old question is whether or not Geronimo was a legend or a sellout. Geronimo was an Eastern Chiricahua Apache from present day Arizona and New Mexico. After the murder of his mother, his wife, and his children in 1850 by the Mexican soldiers his name and the ways he fought were developed. Because of his leadership skills he had many Indian followers and admires, but, is said by non- Indians to be a merciless killer of men, women, and children. As said by Paul Harris a writer from “The Observer” that “ Later, as the US came to terms with its harsh treatment of Native Americans, the Apache leader would emerge as a different figure: the noble hero fighting to defend his land, people and way of life”(Harris …show more content…
He was born a Bedonkohe Apache; He later became leader of the Chiricahua Apache. He married a woman named Alope from his tribe and they had three children. Raiding other tribes was a way of life for the Apaches. While out with members of the tribe on a raid of another Indian tribe, the Mexican soldiers attacked their camp. Geronimo came home to find his wife, mother, and his children murdered. Geronimo was intensely affected by the loss of his family. While grieving for his family author Harvey Markowitz stated “while he was in a trancelike state, a voice called his name four times (the magic number among Apaches) and then informed him, No gun can ever kill you”(Markowitz pg.182). This led Geronimo to be a ruthless man. He led raids on Mexican camps that were brutal and killed many with no worries as to whether or not he would be killed. For ten years he led this life style and worked his way up the ranks of the Apache