Dahteste

Dahteste (circa 1860–1955) was a Choconen Apache woman warrior.

Family

Dahteste was the sister of Ilth-goz-ay, the wife of Chihuahua (also known as Kla-esh), chief of the Chokonen local group of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua.

Career

Despite being married with children, Dahteste took part in raiding parties with her first husband Ahnandia. She was a compatriot of Geronimo and companion of Lozen on many raids. Dahteste was fluent in English and acted as messenger and translator for the Apache. She also became a mediator and trusted scout at times for the U.S. Cavalry and was instrumental in negotiating Geronimo's surrender to the U.S. Cavalry.

Prison

She spent eight years as prisoner of war at Fort Marion in St. Augustine in Florida, where she survived pneumonia and tuberculosis. Thereafter she was shipped to a military prison in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[1] During the confinement she and Ahnandia divorced[2] in the 'Apache way.

During this time she was always with Lozen. Dahteste was a well-groomed, beautiful woman who took pride in her appearance and dressed in feminine attire.

Later life

Nineteen years after her imprisonment, Dahteste married Cooni (also spelled Kuni), a scout and widower scout. They lived out the rest of their life at Whitetail on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ White, Julia. "Dahteste - Mescalero Apache". Woman Spirit. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  2. ↑ H. Henrietta Stockel: Chiricahua Apache Women and Children: Safekeepers of the Heritage, ISBN 978-0890969212

See also

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