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Geronimo

Geronimo Biography

Tribal chief

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“Late one afternoon when returning from town we were met by a few women and children who told us that Mexican troops from some other town had attacked our camp, killed all the warriors of the guard, captured all our ponies, secured our arms, destroyed our supplies, and killed many of our women and children.. when all were counted, I found that my aged mother, my young wife, and my three small children were among the slain.”

ChildrenYoungMotherThreeFoundWifeArmsMetsLateTownsDestroyedWarriorCampsAfternoonTroopsMexicanCapturedSuppliesSecuredSmall ChildPoniesApachesYoung Wife
Book:Geronimo's Story of His Life: As Told to S. M. Barrett
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“When a child my mother taught me the legends of our people; taught me of the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms. She also taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom, and protection. We never prayed against any person, but if we had aught against any individual we ourselves took vengeance. We were taught that Usen does not care for the petty quarrels of men.”

PeopleIfsMenChildrenPersonsDoeCareMotherIndividualStarsSunSkyTaughtPrayingMoonCloudsStormProtectionNativeLegendsNative AmericanVengeancePettyQuarrelsMoon And Stars
Book:Geronimo's Story of His Life: As Told to S. M. Barrett
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“We had no churches, no religious organizations, no sabbath day, no holidays, and yet we worshiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would assemble to sing and pray; sometimes a smaller number, perhaps only two or three. The songs had a few words, but were not formal. The singer would occasionally put in such words as he wished instead of the usual tone sound. Sometimes we prayed in silence; sometimes each one prayed aloud; sometimes an aged person prayed for all of us. At other times one would rise and speak to us of our duties to each other and to Usen. Our services were short.”

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Author:Geronimo
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“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.”

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Author:Geronimo
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“It is my land, my home, my father's land, to which I now ask to be allowed to return. I want to spend my last days there, and be buried among those mountains. If this could be I might die in peace, feeling that my people, placed in their native homes, would increase in numbers, rather than diminish as at present, and that our name would not become extinct.”

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Book:Geronimo's Story of His Life: As Told to S. M. Barrett
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“I am not ashamed to be a Christian, and I am glad to know that the President of the United States is a Christian, for without the help of the Almighty I do not think he could rightly judge in ruling so many people. I have advised all of my people who are not Christians, to study that religion, because it seems to me the best religion in enabling one to live right.”

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Book:My Life: The Autobiography of Geronimo
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