Gouyen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gouyen
Góyą́ń ("the one who is wise")
A portrait of Gouyen.
Apache woman noted for her heroism. leader
Personal details
Born	c. 1857
Died	1903 Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Spouses	Married twice; second husband was Kaytennae
Children	Son, Kaywaykla

Gouyen (pronounced Goo-yen), whose name in the Mescalero Apache language was Góyą́ń meaning "the one who is wise," was a brave Apache woman who lived in the 1800s. She is remembered for her amazing courage and heroic actions.

Early Life of a Brave Apache Woman

Gouyen was born around 1857. She belonged to the Warm Springs Apache band, also known as the Chihenne. This group was led by the famous Chief Victorio. Gouyen was also the niece of an older chief named Kastzidzen, often called Nana. She got married when she was a young woman.

Seeking Justice: Gouyen's Courageous Act

In the 1870s, Gouyen's first husband was killed. He died during a raid by the Comanche people. Gouyen decided to get revenge for his death. Her brave actions became a famous story in Apache history.

She tracked the Comanche chief who killed her husband. She found him at his camp. The chief was watching a victory dance around a large bonfire. Gouyen bravely attacked him. She used his own knife to kill him. Then, she took his special beaded breechcloth and moccasins. Gouyen also stole a horse. She rode it back to her own camp. She showed her husband's family the Comanche leader's belongings. This proved her successful revenge.

Battle of Tres Castillos and Survival

Gouyen was part of Chief Victorio's group. She was used to fighting alongside Apache men. She was with Victorio even during his last days. They were trying to escape or fight U.S. and Mexican soldiers. This happened along the border between the two countries.

A Woman Warrior's Role

While the Apache warriors fought the U.S. Cavalry, Lozen helped. Lozen was a woman warrior and Victorio's younger sister. She led the women and children to the Mexican side of the river. Lozen then put Gouyen in charge of them. Gouyen was already a skilled fighter and Lozen's helper. Lozen told Gouyen to lead the non-fighters to a safe place. Lozen then went back to the battle.

The Attack at Tres Castillos

On October 14, 1880, Gouyen's group was resting. They were at a place called Tres Castillos, Mexico. At this time, old Nana was getting more ammunition. Lozen was taking a young mother and her children to a safe place. Suddenly, Mexican soldiers surrounded and attacked Gouyen's group.

The Apache people had run out of ammunition. Victorio and 77 other Apache were killed. Many others were taken prisoner. Only 17 Apache managed to escape. Gouyen and her young son, Kaywaykla, were among them. Sadly, her baby daughter was believed to have been killed in the attack.

Life After the Battle

After the battle, Gouyen married again. Her second husband was an Apache warrior named Kaytennae. He also escaped from the Battle of Tres Castillos. He later joined up with Nana's group and Lozen.

Life as a Prisoner of War

Kaytennae became part of the group led by Nana and Geronimo in the early 1880s. In 1883, he and Gouyen escaped from the San Carlos Reservation with Geronimo.

During their escape, Gouyen saved Kaytennae's life. She killed a man who was trying to ambush him. In 1886, Gouyen and her family were captured by the U.S. Army. They were held as prisoners of war at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Gouyen died there in 1903.