FREE ESSAY ON GERONIMO AND THE APACHE RESISTANCE

GERONIMO AND THE APACHE RESISTANCE

Summary: Geronimo and the Apache Resistance
The Myth about Geronimo portrays him as an implacable savage, but in reality he is a man
that risked everything including his family, his land, his home, and his way of life to
fight for his beliefs. He is said to have magical powers. He can see into the future,
walk without leaving any footprints, and he can even hold off the dawn to protect his
own.
Geronimo is a Cheewakawa Apache, and for twenty-five years this warrior has defied
federal authority with his band of thirty-seven followers. The Cheewakawa are nomadic
hunters, gatherers, and warriors that call themselves "the people." It is believed that
there is a single Apache Nation, but there are, rather, many single groups spread across
the Southwest. One of these groups is the Cheewakawa Apache. They fight only to survive
and defend the rights of their land, they never want war. The Apache do not permit any
challenges to the rights of their land. 
Geronimo is also falsely believed to be a warrior chief, when in fact, he is a Medicine
Man and the influential mentor of Nichee the true hereditary leader of their people.
Geronimo is a holy man with access to the supernatural power in the land. The Apache are
inseparable to the natural world which is beauty, harmony, and the power infested with
life. The dominant society (settlers) label them as raiders, thieves, savages, and
warring people. But these means are necessary in order to survive, and that is what the
whites do not understand. 
The year is 1800, and the Mexican border is as far north as the Apache camps. However,
Mexico does not recognize the rights of the Apache and their land, and as a result, there
is constant conflict between the inhabitants. In 1840, the Apache are facing near
extermination because they will not surrender their land or their way of life. And now,
bounty hunters now earn $100 for male Apache scalps, $50 for female Apache scalps, and
$25 for children Apache scalps. In 1851, 400 Mexican soldiers attack an Apache camp,
slaughtering women and children including Geronimo's family. Ironically, Geronimo is on
his way back to the camp to talk about peace, all the while his family and friends is
being massacred. The Apache are never subdued by Mexico, because the Apache territory is
won by the US and ultimately does not remain as a part of Mexico. Regardless, the Apache
do not believe that Mexico has the authority to give away their land in the first place.
Apache descendant, Anita Lester, explains that the American Settlers and Indians are now
friends and that the Apache are curious about the settlers. The settlers come in search
of mining prospects and hunting. These actions, overdone, lead to conflict between the
settlers and the Apache. Treaties are constantly violated by lawless elements in the
white population, for "a good Indian" is "a dead Indian." Where as with the Apache, your
word is your life. The Apache are an obstacle in the path of the white exploitation of
the land. In 1861, and the Apache country is collapsing and war is eminent. In 1871,
General William Orey leads 100 men against the camp of the Apache. At this point, the
Apache are no longer as safe as the settlers. This camp grand massacre set up by Orey
creates public outrage, and the government reacts with a new policy that hopefully
secures the white and Indian alike. A year later in 1872, the government wants the
Cheewakawa to farm land, but the land is desolate, baron, and thus, useless. Instead, the
Apache asked for cattle, but are given nothing. Inspite of near of starvation, they still
manage to keep the peace. However, in 1876, a new federal policy closes the Cheewakawa
reservation and sends them to war at Fort Bowie. Because of this Geronimo escapes to
Mexico, and within a months time manages to kill sixty-eight settlers and become a wanted
man in New Mexico. He is temporarily captured and sent to San Carlos. There, he escapes
with 400 of his people and flee to Sierra Madre. Sierra Madre is where Gernimo encounters
General Crooke. Crooke is a different kind of militia who treats Indians with respect;
for example, he does not lie or make promises that he can not keep. However, General
Crooke sees Geronimo's people as a threat to peace between the U.S. and Indian nations.
Crooke searches for Geronimo but his soldiers are no match for the Apache. He can not
keep up with them on the wild terrain, so he uses two other Apache as scouts to help him
locate the band. Forty days later they are able to locate and meet up with the band.
Transcript meetings are conducted and Crooke gives Geronimo an ultimatum. Geronimo's
people are dying, and he is told to either surrender or stay on the war path. They meet
the next day and Geronimo and Nichee make a compromise with Crooke to stay in jail for
two years as long as they are returned subsequently. Geronimo surrenders, but panics when
a soldier tells him that he will be hanged in Arizona for murder. Crooke wires his
commander with an update on the capture and is told that his methods are insufficient.
Crooke then resigns, and is replaced by General Nelson Miles. Geronimo escapes again and
eludes the armies for six months, at which point the Cheewakawa are finally tiresome and
decide it might time to surrender. 
His people are asking and begging him to surrender. He has another discussion for several
hours with the two scouts about surrendering. The General orders that he either surrender
or fight it out to the bitter end. The General also mentions that his family have been
shipped to Florida. So, Geronimo finally surrenders in Skeleton Canyon in Southeast
Arizona. After the surrender, the band are sent to Fort Bowie where they are made
prisoners along with the scouts that were just exploited to track Geronimo. Then they are
all shipped to Florida like cattle. 
Almost all treaties and promises are broken by the White Americans. What was supposed to
be two years in jail turned into 27 years. During this time, the phase of the
assimilation project is initiated. The government has seen fit to have Indian children
sent to schools at age twelve in Pennsylvania. There, they are made to wear white people
clothes, learn English, get hair cuts, and unlearn their former ways of life. At eighty
years old, Geronimo passes away in Oklahoma from Pneumonia.