Naiche – Chiricahua Apache Leader
Naiche, a figure etched in the annals of the American West, stands as the final hereditary chief of the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians. His life, a tapestry woven with threads of leadership, resistance, and eventual adaptation, offers a compelling glimpse into a tumultuous era in Native American history. This article delves into the life and legacy of Naiche, exploring his lineage, his role in the Apache Wars, and his eventual fate.
Born around 1857 into the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache, Naiche’s arrival coincided with increasing tensions between Native Americans and the encroaching tide of white settlers. He was the second son of the revered Cochise and Dos-teh-seh, Cochise’s first and principal wife. His given name, meaning "the Mischief Maker" or "Meddlesome One," foreshadowed a life marked by defiance and resistance. This moniker, perhaps bestowed in jest during his youth, would later become a fitting descriptor of his actions as a leader fighting to protect his people’s way of life.
Upon the death of Cochise, Naiche’s older brother, Taza, assumed the mantle of leadership. However, Taza’s reign was tragically short-lived. He succumbed to pneumonia during a visit to Washington, D.C., where he had traveled as a delegate. Taza’s unexpected death in 1876 created a leadership vacuum within the Chiricahua. That same year, Naiche was thrust into the role of chief, becoming the last to hold that title for the free Chiricahua. He inherited a legacy of resistance and a responsibility to safeguard his people’s traditions in the face of overwhelming odds.
Initially, Naiche displayed a willingness to cooperate with the white settlers. He led the Chiricahua in surrendering to General Oliver O. Howard in 1876, a decision driven, perhaps, by a desire to secure a peaceful future for his people. He guided his band to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona, a move that represented a significant concession to the U.S. government. This period of relative peace, however, proved to be a fleeting illusion.
The summer of 1881 brought unsettling news – reports of the first Ghost Dance, a spiritual movement promising the return of deceased ancestors and the restoration of Native American lands. The whispers of this movement resonated deeply within the Apache community, igniting hope and fueling a renewed sense of resistance. Adding to the unrest, the Battle of Cibecue erupted in Arizona that same summer. The clash resulted in the deaths of several soldiers and an Apache medicine man, further escalating tensions between the Apache and the U.S. military.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Cibecue, troops flooded the region, prompting Naiche and his followers to flee the confines of the reservation. Seeking refuge and strength in numbers, they joined forces with Geronimo in the Sierra Madre mountains south of the Rio Grande. From this remote stronghold, they launched attacks on both American and Mexican communities, striking back against what they perceived as an unjust occupation of their ancestral lands.
While Naiche held the hereditary title of chief, Geronimo’s charisma and reputation as a fierce warrior cast him as the more prominent leader during these campaigns. Naiche, recognizing Geronimo’s strategic prowess and influence, deferred to him, becoming a key figure in Geronimo’s band. Their combined leadership posed a formidable challenge to the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army, determined to quell the Apache resistance, relentlessly pursued the rebellious Chiricahua. The harsh terrain of the Sierra Madre offered temporary refuge, but it could not indefinitely shield them from the relentless pursuit. On May 25, 1883, Naiche, facing dwindling resources and the unwavering pressure of the U.S. military, surrendered to General George Crook.
Geronimo, initially defiant, followed suit in January 1884. For a brief period, both leaders and their followers settled at the San Carlos Reservation. However, the allure of freedom and the deep-seated distrust of American control proved too strong to resist. In 1885, Naiche and Geronimo, along with over 100 men, once again broke free from the reservation, embarking on a desperate attempt to evade American authority.
The final chapter of the Apache Wars unfolded in the rugged terrain of Sonora, Mexico. Apache scouts, intimately familiar with the land, played a crucial role in assisting detachments of the U.S. Army in tracking down the elusive Geronimo and Naiche. By September 1886, facing insurmountable odds, they were forced to surrender, effectively ending the era of Apache resistance.
The surrender marked the beginning of a long and arduous period of captivity for Naiche, Geronimo, and their followers. They were initially incarcerated at Fort Pickens in Florida, while their wives and children were moved to Fort Marion. The decision to separate families was met with outrage and underscored the harsh treatment inflicted upon the Apache.
The selection of Fort Pickens as a holding location was influenced, in part, by prominent citizens of Pensacola, Florida, who saw an opportunity to capitalize on Geronimo’s notoriety and attract tourists. Their petition to the government, however, only requested the men, resulting in the initial separation of families. President Grover Cleveland approved the petition for the men only, separating them from their families. After a while, the U.S. would reunite the families at Fort Pickens. Later, the Apache were transferred to Mount Vernon Barracks in Alabama, enduring further displacement and hardship.
In a significant turn of events, the Kiowa and Comanche leaders extended an invitation to the Chiricahua Apache, offering them a share of their reservation. In response to this offer, the government relocated Naiche and 295 other Apache to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on October 4, 1895. This move represented a step towards integration, but it also marked a permanent separation from their ancestral homeland.
Naiche remained at Fort Sill until 1913, witnessing the slow erosion of traditional Apache culture and the challenges of adapting to a new way of life. In 1913, he, along with other Apache people, were allowed to return to the Southwest, settling at the Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico. Naiche lived in peace for eight years. He died of influenza at Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico, in 1921, closing the chapter on a life defined by leadership, resistance, and the enduring spirit of the Chiricahua Apache.