Book Review: Native American Chiefs and Warriors

Native American Chiefs and Warriors: History Makers by Stuart A Kallen, Lucent Books, San Diego, CA, 1999.
This book tells Native American history from a Native American view point.  In particular it first gives a general overview, with the theme that Native Americans were only protecting their land from encroaching Whites, which is what happened.
This book particularly talks about several chiefs.  First King Phillip.  King Phillip lead King Phillip's War after his father passed away.  There came a point where he couldn't take the encroachment, and poor treatment of the Pilgrims any longer.  They achieved initial success, but eventually they were overwhelmed, and King Phillip killed and his family sold into slavery.
Chief Pontiac was of the Ottawa Tribe, who were known for their trading, especially with the French.  They were active participants int he French and Indian War, and the loss of the French was especially hard.  When the French refused to support the continued conflict Pontiac and his warriors were sunk.  Pontiac was befriended by the English, and this did him in amongst his people.  He was murdered, and there was no one to avenge his death.
Geronimo was the famous Apache warrior, who kept breaking loss from the reservation and continuing his warring.  He first warred the Spanish, then the Mexicans and finally the Americans.
Crazy Horse was the famous Sioux Chief, who followed his dream telling him to know wear a head dress in to battle, nor paint his horse, nor take spoils.  He lead his people to victory at Little Big Horn but was killed being taken into captivity.
Wilma Mankiller was the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation.  She grew up in the San Francisco area during the protest era.  She and her family returned to the reservation after the death of her father.  She met with presidents, and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Documentary Review: We Shall Remain: Geronimo

Geronimo's sneer was from a bullet wound

This is the fourth of a five-part series from American Experience on PBS.  This film points to Geronimo as both a hero and a man whose pride brought down his nation.  Geronimo had a vision in which he was told he would be a fierce warrior and bullets would not kill him.  Many times he was captured and released, or negotiated to give himself up and then changed his mind.  One time he left the reservation after a peaceful medicine man, prophet was killed.  He was known simply as the Dreamer.  He was a peaceful man, focusing on living the Native ways, but also learning to coeXist with the Whites.
Geronimo was the last Native American fighting the Federal Government.  He and his people but a heavy price for this.  I had never realized before the consequences for his people.  The Chiricahua Apache were removed form the reservation and kept essentially as prisoners of war for over 20 years.  They were shipped to Florida, which was very poor for their health as they were use to more arid conditions.  Geronimo and those still with him, about 34 were taken to Florida, and then to Indian territory.  He become somewhat of a celebrity, and even became a part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.  He was in President Ted Roosevelt's inaugural parade.  He asked the President if he could go home, but his request was declined.  He died in Indian Territory, after falling of a horse and contracting pneumonia.

Native American Biographies: Apache Wars: Cochise, Geronimo,

Mangas Coloradas was the father-in-law of Cochise.  He fought the Mexicans and then the Americans with Cochise.  They used guerrilla tactics.  A long peace was disrupted when prospectors found gold in the territory where Mangas and his people lived.  During peace negotiations he was taken and whipped badly.  Lieutenant George N. Bascomb charged that the Apache had kidnapped a halg-breed boy.  The Chiricahua blamed this on other Apache.  Prisoners were murdered back and forth.  Mangas Coloradas was wounded in fighting in 1862.  Cochise took him to a doctor in Mexico, and he slowly healed.  In 1863, thinking of an earlier peace treaty he had signed, Mangas pursued talking to Captain Edmond Shirland.  He traveled unarmed under a flag of truce.  Later his body was found in a ditch, his hands and feet had been burned with bayonets, his body full of bullet holes, and he was decapitated.  From this point the Apache pursued war.
Cochise was an Chiricahua Apache chief who conducted a war against the U.S. starting in 1861.  Cochise was trained to be a chief.  His father was killed most likely due to Mexican Treachery.  War raged between Cochise and the Mexicans for most of his life.  He raided into Mexico almost all of his life. Apache-Mexican wars had been going on for hundreds of years.  As the Civil War commenced, something happened which lead Cochise to a violent struggle with the Americans.  Cochise was captured, and three of his relatives were ordered tortured and killed in retaliation for the murders of three U.S. Citizens.  Cochise would carry out a violent struggle of retaliation with the Americans for the next ten years.  The first four he was relatively free to do as he pleased, and the Civil War caused people to be worried about other things.  Cochise became chief of the Chiricahua and planned and lead many raids.  After the war the Federals and Mexicans both pursued Cochise.  This made it more difficult.  Cochise was also getting older and had less heart for fighting.  He finally pursued peace with the Americans.

Geronimo was a leader in the Apache-American war which was an outgrowth of the war with the Mexicans.  Hostilities toward the Americans did not start until Americans began immigrating to the New Mexico-Arizona area after the Mexican-American War.  From 1850 to 1886 Geronimo and other Apache leader conducted raids of American settlements.  Geronimo was not considered a chief, and his followers only numbered between 30 and 50 warriors.  Geronimo's mother, wife and three children were killed in a raid by Mexican scalp hunters when the warriors were away.  After this incident, he had a trance like experience in which he was told, "No gun can ever kill you. . . .And I will guide your arrows."  With this message of power Geronimo was a fearless warrior.  He was wounded on occasion, but always felt bullets could not kill him.  After the experience with the Mexicans, he became bitter towards Mexicans, and killed many of them.  AN earlier peace treaty guaranteed Geronimo's homeland for the Chiricahua.  However after the death of Cochise the government wanted to move them to the San Carlos Reservation in the Gila River area.  Geronimo resisted and his band conducted raids on the Americans from 1874 to 1877.  He was captured for the only time in 1877, and released.  He was told not to leave the reservation, but he soon was back in Mexico conducting raids.  In the press he was blamed for all Apache crimes.  With the promise of protection, he returned to San Carlos Reservation in 1879.  Things were peaceful, until the death of Nakaidoklini.  This triggered another escape, and he went into hiding in Mexico.  He attempted a raid on the reservation, to gather reinforcements.  This almost lead to Geronimo's death, and the forcing of many to go with him who really didn't want to go.  General George Crook pursued peace with him.  In 1883 his entire band returned to San Carlos.  He did not adjust well to reservation life, and they again left in 1885.  5,000 troops pursued them, aided by 500 scouts.  Still the evaded capture until the agreed to meet with General Nelson Miles.  This time Geronimo was not returned to the reservation, but to Florida prisoner of war camp.  He was eventually shipped to Indian Territory in Oklahoma where he adapted to reservation life.  He was invited to Washington to meet President Ted Roosevelt.  When he was in his 80s, he was returning home form sells bows and arrows.  He had been drinking, and fell off his horse into a creek bed.  He died several days later of pneumonia.
Victorio lead his band in raid against the U.s. and Mexico.  Some say he was a captured Mexican, but Apache sources agree he was native born Apache.  He experienced the encroachment of Mexican miners and American prospectors and ranchers.  He signed a peace agreement and requested a reservation.  He was Mimbreno Apache, and they were required to settle on reservation with Chiricahua, where they suffered conflict.  He and 200 Apaches left the reservation.  They were asking to be returned to New Mexico, but were returned to the San Carlos Reservation.  Victorio fled with 50 warriors.  When he learned of an order for his arrest, he continued to terrorize New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico.  The U.S. troops pursued him, but only haphazardly.  As a result Victorio had success.  He knew the terrain.  He also knew where to fortify.  His ranks where swelled by other renegades.  However in 1880 he was ambushed by a group of scouts.  Victorio was wounded, and 50 of his best warriors killed.  He escaped with his remaining men to Mexico.  They were trapped by Mexican troops in October.  After the battle Victorio lay dead, by his own hand as were his warriors.  The women and children were taken prisoner.  Victorio was doomed to attrition, when those he fought received reinforcements, and eventually brought overwhelming numbers against him.
Nana kept going where Victorio let off.  He had fought with Victorio, but was not killed in Mexico and was able to escape.  The Mexican soldiers made lots of money that day, receiving $50,000 for the scalps of 62 warriors and 16 women  They also sold 68 women and children into slavery.  At age 70 Nana terrorized New Mexico until he surrendered to general George Crook.  However in 1885 he broke loose with 140 Chiricahua.  He surrendered to General Crook again in 1886.  When the terms of surrender were changed, Crook resigned.  He with 38 Chiricahua kept five thousand soldiers busy.  He was eventually removed as a prisoner of war to Florida.  However he survived to return before his death.
Nakaidoklini was the Apache prophet.  He lived on the San Carlos Reservation.  He preached of dead Apache leaders being resurrected.  They would come back and help the Apache defeat the soldiers.  They performed a resurrection dance.  Nakkaidoklini danced with the warriors, anointing them with sacred pollen.  His arrest was ordered.  Colonel Car traveled to the reservation with calvary and White Mountain Apache scouts.  When the arrived to arrest him Nakaidoklini surrendered.  The scouts however rebelled, and in the ensuring scuffle Nakaidoklini was killed.
Natiotish was upset by the killing of the prophet and led his his band of warriors on a raid of the San Carlos Reservation, killing four policemen.  He was pursued by Captain Adna Chaffee.  Natiotish planned an ambush, but Chaffee had been warned and reinforced.  At the battle of Big Dry Wash the warriors of Natiotish were out  fought.  The abandoned their guerrilla tactics and many were killed, including Natiotish.  The survivors returned to the reservation.
Naiche was a close associate of Geronimo.  He was the son of Cochise.  With Geronimo he led many raiding parties.  Geronimo was the natural leader, but Naiche was the leader by right.  Geronimo always showed Naiche respect by putting Naiche on his right.  In 1886 he and Geronimo and Nana met with Lieutenant Marion Maus to discuss surrender.  The federals were holding Indian hostages, including Naiche's wife and son.  They would be transported to Florida.  Naiche would return as an Apache Scout and help hunt Apaches still living in the Sierra Madre area.  In 1993 he was moved to Oklahoma still as a prisoner of war.  In 1912 he accomplished the release of the Apache prisoners of war through congressional action.
Mangas Coloradas was the father-in-law of Cochise.  He fought the Mexicans and then the Americans with Cochise.  They used guerrilla tactics.  A long peace was disrupted when prospectors found gold in the territory where Mangas and his people lived.  During peace negotiations he was taken and whipped badly.  Lieutenant George N. Bascomb charged that the Apache had kidnapped a halg-breed boy.  The Chiricahua blamed this on other Apache.  Prisoners were murdered back and forth.  Mangas Coloradas was wounded in fighting in 1862.  Cochise took him to a doctor in Mexico, and he slowly healed.  In 1863, thinking of an earlier peace treaty he had signed, Mangas pursued talking to Captain Edmond Shirland.  He traveled unarmed under a flag of truce.  Later his body was found in a ditch, his hands and feet had been burned with bayonets, his body full of bullet holes, and he was decapitated.  From this point the Apache pursued war.