Geronimo ( Chiricahua GoyaaÅ Ã ` One Who Yawns ' ; often spelled Goyathlay in English ) , ( June 16 , 1829 â `` February 17 , 1909 ) was a well-known Native American leader , but not chief , of the Chiricahua Apache tribe , but he was a Bedonkohe Apache . Geronimo ( Chiricahua : GoyaaÅ Ã , `` one who yawns '' ; often spelled Goyathlay or Goyahkla in English ) ( June 16 , 1829 -- February 17 , 1909 ) was a prominent Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache who fought against Mexico and the United States for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars .