# Naiche — Geronimo’s Story of His Life character guide

> Naiche in Geronimo’s Story of His Life by Geronimo.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Natches, Chief Naiche

**First appearance:** 0015-vii-fighting-under-difficulties

## Snapshot

Hereditary chief of the Chiricahua Apaches and Geronimo's lieutenant through the Arizona wars, wary of every white man's promise after Mangus-Colorado was murdered.

## Who they are

Naiche is the last hereditary chief of the hostile Apaches, riding parallel to Captain Lawton's command with Geronimo and standing beside him at Skeleton Canyon when the surrender is negotiated. Wild and suspicious, he hesitates to place himself in the hands of the palefaces precisely because he knows Mangus-Colorado was foully murdered after surrendering years before. His fear of treachery gives the surrender its tension, and when the band is separated from its women and children at the railroad cars, he and Geronimo protest together that the treaty of surrender has been broken.

## Relationships

### [Geronimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/geronimo)

_family_

Naiche was Geronimo's fellow chief and close companion, often acting as a brother-in-arms and loyal ally during their resistance.

### [Cochise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/cochise)

_family_

Naiche was the son of Cochise, inheriting his father's role as a chief and continuing the Apache struggle.

### [Captain Lawton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/captain_lawton)

_rivalry_

Lawton pursued Naiche as part of the military campaign to capture Apache holdouts.

### [Asa Deklugie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/asa_deklugie)

_friendship_

Asa Deklugie and Naiche were fellow Apache men who shared experiences as prisoners of war and cultural interpreters.

### [Geronimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/geronimo)

_family_

Naiche was Geronimo's fellow chief and close companion, often acting as a brother-in-arms and loyal ally during their resistance.

## In the story

### [Geronimo’s Story of His Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/geronimo-s-story-of-his-life)

Chief Naiche, son of Cochise, who led alongside Geronimo in many battles.

### [II: Subdivisions of the Apache Tribe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/ii-subdivisions-of-the-apache-tribe)

Son of Cochise, hereditary chief of the Chiricahua Apaches, Geronimo's companion in arms and in bondage.

### [VI: Kas-Ki-Yeh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/vi-kas-ki-yeh)

Mentioned in the context of the campaign: 'Naiche, his mother, his two wives, and his children.'

### [Part II: The Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-ii-the-revenge)

Mentioned as being present with his mother, two wives, and children during the campaign.

### [VIII: Raids That Were Successful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/viii-raids-that-were-successful)

Listed among the Apache scouts who participated in the raids.

### [IX: Varying Fortunes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/ix-varying-fortunes)

Mentioned as one of three Apache chieftains during a raid.

### [XVI: In Prison and on the Warpath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xvi-in-prison-and-on-the-warpath)

Only chief with Geronimo after Whoa's death; accompanied him to Sonora.

### [Surrender of Geronimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xviii-surrender-of-geronimo)

Hereditary chief who is suspicious and fears treachery; surrenders alongside Geronimo.

### [Part IV: The Old and the New](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-iv-the-old-and-the-new)

Mentioned as a fellow leader navigating the changing times.

### [Unwritten Laws of the Apaches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xx-unwritten-laws-of-the-apaches)

Former chief of the Chokonen Apaches; leads the singing at Eva's debut dance.

### [Dances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/dances)

Former chief of the Chokonen Apaches, led the singing at Eva's debut dance.

### [A Social Dance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/a-social-dance)

Former chief of the Chokonen Apaches, leads the singing at the dance.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Shown as hereditary chief of the Chiricahua Apaches and Geronimo's lieutenant.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/naiche
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters