Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

May 4, 2011

Apache Chairman Houser: Geronimo no Osama bin Laden

Fort Sill Apache Tribe to President Obama about 'Geronimo'
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
By Jeff Houser
Letter from Jeff Houser, Chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, to President Barack Obama.

I am writing on behalf of and in my capacity as the Chairman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe. On Sunday, our Tribe like most of the country was ecstatic about your announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a military operation in Pakistan. The performance of our military and intelligence agencies in locating and taking action against Osama bin Laden made us all of proud to be Americans.

However, late yesterday as details of the operation came to light, our Tribe and many other Native Americans learned of a disturbing fact that tempered our positive feelings about this great accomplishment. Through various media reports our Tribe found out that the code name used for Osama bin Laden on this operation was Geronimo. As you may or may not know, Geronimo was a member of our Tribe. He is buried in the Fort Sill Apache Prisoner of War Cemetery on the Fort Sill Army Base in Lawton, Oklahoma where he died after almost 23 years of captivity.

We are quite certain that the use of the name Geronimo as a code for Osama bin Laden was based on misunderstood and misconceived historical perspectives of Geronimo and his armed struggle against the United States and Mexican governments. However to equate Geronimo or any other Native American figure with Osama bin Laden, a mass murderer and cowardly terrorist, is painful and offensive to our Tribe and to all native Americans.

Geronimo was a renowned Chiricahua Apache leader who personally fought to defend his people, territory and way of life. Unlike the coward Osama bin Laden, Geronimo faced his enemy in numerous battles and engagements. He is perhaps one of the greatest symbols of Native American resistance in the history of the United States.

What this action has done is forever link the name and memory of Geronimo to one of the most despicable enemies this Country has ever had. This fact is even more appalling when examined in light of the United States House of Representatives February 2009 Resolution that honored Geronimo for “his extraordinary bravery, and his commitment to the defense of his homeland, his people, and Apache ways of life.” Now a little over two years later your Administration has further immortalized his existence by linking him to the most hated person in recent American history.

Our Tribe and most Native Americans would hope that you would issue a formal apology to the Geronimo family members, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and to all Native Americans for this action. Right now Native American children all over this Country are facing the reality of having one of their most revered figures being connected to a terrorist and murderer of thousands of innocent Americans. Think about how they feel at this point.

We all remember that you were elected on a message of compassion and change. This action by your Administration showed neither compassion toward Native Americans nor a change in the perception of us or an understanding of our struggle. Please do not allow this injustice against one of our greatest figures to stand. Only you Mr. President can take steps to right this wrong.

Sincerely,
Jeff Houser
Chairman

Also see:

San Carlos Apache Nation demands apology and executive order:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2011/05/san-carlos-apache-on-geronimo-codename.html
Geronimo's family reacts to Geronimo codename
KOAT: Great Grandson: 'A slap in the face of my family:'
http://www.koat.com/r/27782751/detail.html
Harlyn Geronimo: Codename defames a great human spirit:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2011/05/harlyn-geronimo-codename-defames-great.html
Fort Sill Apache:
Fort Sill Apache Nation Chairman Jeff Houser: Geronimo no bin Laden
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/05/apache-chairman-houser-geronimo-no.html
Ben Carnes, Choctaw:
Ben Carnes, Choctaw: Osama bin Laden Codename Geronimo:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/05/ben-carnes-osama-bin-laden-code-named.html
Geronimo: Skull and Bones meeting with San Carlos Apache Nation delegation:
Former Councilman Raleigh Thompson describes how the Bush family and Skull and Bones attorney attempted to return the skull of Geronimo, and silence the San Carlos Apaches
Censored News:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2011/05/geronimo-skull-and-bones-meeting-with.html

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this letter to the President. While listening to the news of Bin Laden's capture and death, the pride I was feeling for this accomplishment by the US gov't and military was diminished when i heard that the name Geronimo had been associated with this evil man. It has left a sad and angry feeling inside of me. Thank you for putting into words all that I would like to say. I am proud to be a Native American Indian.

katiewornek said...

Greetings,

My name is Katie Wornek and I am a researcher for a television show called American Ride (http://www.byutv.org/show/06d93297-b6fa-49f5-8cce-6bd555b563af/american-ride). We are interested in using the image of Geronimo on horseback posted in this blog for an upcoming episode. Do you know if the image has an active copyright and, if so, do you know how I can obtain permission to use the image?

Thanks for your help. Rather than commenting back, please reach me at katiewornek@me.com.

Best,
Katie
409, 55

Censored News, publisher Brenda Norrell said...

Hi, Thanks for writing. You could begin researching the copyright at the US Library of Congress.