Geronimo’s Story of His Life · Chapter
III: Early Life explained
Geronimo recounts his birth in No-doyohn Canyon, Arizona, in 1829, his upbringing in the Gila River region, and his family life among the Bedonkohe Apache.
What happens
Geronimo recounts his birth in No-doyohn Canyon, Arizona, in 1829, his upbringing in the Gila River region, and his family life among the Bedonkohe Apache. He describes childhood play, agricultural work, the gathering of wild foods, and the preparation of tiswin. The chapter also includes a story of a woman named Cho-ko-le who survived a grizzly bear attack, and details about Apache medicine, prayer, and traditional clothing.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Community
Geronimo describes his family of eight children, shared agricultural work, and communal berry-gathering excursions.
Spirituality and Religion
Geronimo's mother taught him to pray to Usen; Apache medicine involved prayer and incantations.
Cultural Preservation and Identity
The chapter details Apache traditions such as cradleboards, legends, farming methods, and the making of tiswin.
Characters to notice
- Geronimo
Narrator and subject of the chapter; describes his birth, family, and early life experiences.
- Porico
Geronimo's brother, also known as White Horse; one of the surviving siblings.
- Usen
The Apache deity; Geronimo's mother taught him to pray to Usen for strength and protection.
- Alope
Not directly mentioned in this chapter; included as a placeholder but no explicit reference found.
Key passages
“I was born in No-doyohn Canyon, Arizona, June, 1829.”
Geronimo states he was born in No-doyohn Canyon, Arizona, in June 1829.
Establishes his birthplace and birth year.
“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.”
As a child, Geronimo learned Apache legends and was taught to pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom, and protection.
Highlights early spiritual and cultural education.
“We never fed corn to our ponies, but if we kept them up in the winter time we gave them fodder to eat.”
The Apache did not feed corn to their ponies; in winter, they gave them fodder.
Details Apache animal husbandry practices.