Geronimo’s Story of His Life · Chapter
Adoption of Children explained
This chapter describes the Apache customs regarding the adoption and care of orphaned children, particularly those left parentless due to war or other causes.
What happens
This chapter describes the Apache customs regarding the adoption and care of orphaned children, particularly those left parentless due to war or other causes. It explains that the tribal chief has the authority to adopt such children or arrange for their care, and that children of outlaws may either accompany their parents or be left with the tribe, with no stigma attached to them.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Community
The chapter outlines the tribe's collective responsibility for orphaned children, emphasizing community care and the absence of disgrace for children of outlaws.
Key passages
“If any children are left orphans by the usage of war or otherwise, that is, if both parents are dead, the chief of the tribe may adopt them or give them away as he desires.”
When children lose both parents due to war or other circumstances, the tribal chief has the authority to adopt them or arrange for their placement.
This describes the chief's role in ensuring orphaned children are cared for within the community.
“In the case of outlawed Indians, they may, if they wish, take their children with them, but if they leave the children with the tribe, the chief decides what will be done with them, but no disgrace attaches to the children.”
Outlawed tribe members can choose to keep their children or leave them with the tribe, where the chief will decide their care, and the children face no shame.
This highlights that children are not held responsible for their parents' status.