Dahteste
Dahteste[pronunciation?] (circa 1860–1955) was a Choconen Apache woman warrior.
Family[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ White, Julia. "Dahteste - Mescalero Apache". Woman Spirit. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ^ H. Henrietta Stockel: Chiricahua Apache Women and Children: Safekeepers of the Heritage, ISBN 978-0890969212
See also[edit]
- Lozen (c. 1840-1890), Chiricahua woman warrior
