Dewlannamapia Dewlannamapia , also known by the shortened name Dewlanna , was a female Wookiee who , at an old age , followed her mate Isshaddik in his exile from their homeworld of Kashyyyk . The two joined the crew of " Trader ' s Luck " , a starship captained by a Human named Garris Shrike and crewed with children who worked for him as thieves . Even after her mate was killed during a smuggling run , Dewlannamapia remained aboard " Trader ' s Luck " , working as a cook . During her days aboard the ship , she met a nine - year - old Corellian boy called Han . Dewlannamapia deeply cared for Han and essentially became a surrogate mother for him . She was responsible for discovering Han ' s last name , Solo , which Shrike had kept secret . Dewlannamapia oversaw Solo ' s education , and at one point she even saved him when he nearly died from Corellian Tanamen Fever . In 10 BBY , hoping to flee from the violent and abusive Shrike , Solo planned an escape from " Trader ' s Luck " . When he came to the galley to say goodbye to Dewlannamapia , the two were found by Shrike . A brawl ensued , and Dewlannamapia sacrificed her life to protect Solo from a blaster shot fired by Shrike . The young Corellian successfully escaped from " Trader ' s Luck " and became a pilot in the Imperial Navy . Believing that he was forever indebted to Dewlannamapia , Solo later saved a Wookiee named Chewbacca from being killed by the Imperial Commander Pter Nyklas . Solo was expelled from the Navy , and he and Chewbacca became smuggling partners . Dewlannamapia was also survived by several cubs ; one of them , Utchakkaloch , met Solo at one point and accepted the Corellian as his adoptive brother . Biography . Raising the Human cub . Dewlannamapia — " Dewlanna " for short — was a female Wookiee born around 610 BBY . She was the mate of Isshaddik and the mother of several cubs , among them Utchakkaloch . Around 20 BBY , Isshaddik was exiled from the family ' s homeworld of Kashyyyk for a crime he had committed ; Dewlannamapia followed her mate into exile , leaving behind her home and her grown cubs . The two of them joined the ragtag criminal crew of the starship " Trader ' s Luck " , captained by a Human named Garris Shrike . Only a year later , however , Isshaddik was killed during a smuggling run to the planet Nar Hekka in Hutt Space . Shrike , who was rather fond of Dewlannamapia ' s cooking , offered her a chance to stay aboard " Trader ' s Luck " . Although Dewlannamapia was free to return to Kashyyyk , she chose to accept the proposition and thus became the ship ' s cook . Aboard the craft , Dewlannamapia stayed in personal quarters near the galley . She befriended a nine - year - old Corellian boy named Han , one of the many children Shrike employed as thieves and pickpockets . Dewlannamapia taught Han to speak and understand the Wookiee language of Shyriiwook . However , it was difficult for Han to reproduce the growls of which Shyriiwook consisted , so he preferred to speak Galactic Basic Standard . As Dewlannamapia understood Basic as well as her own language , the communication between her and Han was fluent . Shrike did not provide his children with education beyond that which was needed in their criminal activities , such as reading and simple math ; however , Han ' s natural desire to defy Shrike led him to pursue further schooling clandestinely . When Dewlannamapia became aware of this , she encouraged Han to study . The young Corellian had a tendency to learn only subjects that he enjoyed and considered useful , like mathematics , and to largely ignore subjects he did not like , particularly history . Dewlannamapia made certain to monitor Han ' s curriculum , forcing him to learn disciplines that he otherwise would have skipped , and the boy eventually began to like history once he realized that some historical battles were as interesting as the ones he had read about in adventure books . Dewlannamapia also taught Han to prepare meals , and he became a fair cook himself . She kept in contact with her son Utchakkaloch , telling him anecdotes about the young Han who loved her wastril bread , and who craved to become a pilot . One day , an unconscious Han was brought aboard " Trader ' s Luck " , having fallen sick with high fever after a mission he had performed for Shrike on the planet Corellia , during which Han had stolen some valuable jewelry . Dewlannamapia tended to the boy , and , fearing for his life , insisted that Shrike take him to a medical droid on Corellia . Shrike was unwilling to spend money on Han ' s treatment , believing that the boy would recuperate soon . Deciding to take the matter into her own hands , Dewlannamapia commandeered a shuttle and took Han to a medical droid . Upon examining the Human , the droid concluded that Han had a severe case of Corellian Tanamen Fever , and that he could have died had Dewlannamapia not brought him to Corellia . The droid prescribed a course of bacta immersion therapy , for which Dewlannamapia paid from her own savings . After Han spent some time in a bacta tank and got better , the two returned to " Trader ' s Luck " . Shrike was furious at Dewlannamapia for disobeying his orders , but the Wookiee stood her ground and insisted that she had done the right thing . Shrike eventually calmed down when he realized that one of the pieces of jewelry that Han had stolen the night he had fallen ill was a set with a genuine Krayt dragon pearl that was worth a fortune . Still , Shrike never repaid Dewlannamapia for Han ' s medical bills . One thing that had always bothered Han was the fact that he did not know his last name . He had been orphaned at an early age and brought to " Trader ' s Luck " by Shrike , who had never spoken of Han ' s parents . When Han told his worries to Dewlannamapia , she decided to help him out once again . In order to spend more time with Shrike , she learned how to play sabacc and often participated in games against her boss . When Han was eleven , the elderly Wookiee ' s strategy finally paid off . One night , while she and Shrike were playing sabacc , the man grew very drunk and started bragging about the dragon pearl that Han had acquired for him and that Shrike had sold for a large sum . With a slip of his tongue , Shrike revealed that the boy ' s last name was " Solo . " When Dewlannamapia tried to find out more about Han ' s parents or other relatives , Shrike became suspicious and did not tell her anything else . The Wookiee then made her way to Han ' s small cubicle and informed the boy of her discovery . Han was filled with joy and proudly called himself " Han Solo " from that point on . The next time " Trader ' s Luck " stopped at Corellia , Solo visited the local public archives to research his last name . He discovered that the Solo lineage was both famous and infamous ; a man named Berethron e Solo had been the last King of Corellia and had introduced democracy to his planet three centuries ago , while more recently , a Dalla Solo had emerged as a ruthless pirate , murderer , and kidnapper better known as " Dalla the Black . " Solo also uncovered evidence of living members of the Solo family , including a reclusive widow named Tiion Sal - Solo and her only son , Thrackan Sal - Solo . Wondering whether he was truly related to them , Solo consulted Dewlannamapia regarding his curiosity , and she encouraged him to seek out Tiion and Thrackan , hoping that they would adopt him and protect him from Shrike . Solo eventually escaped from " Trader ' s Luck " and tracked down the Sal - Solos on Corellia . He lived in their mansion for six weeks and learned that Tiion was , in fact , his aunt , which made Thrackan his cousin . However , Thrackan turned out to be a violent and sadistic bully who sold Solo out to Shrike . Shrike brought the boy back aboard " Trader ' s Luck " and violently beat him for daring to escape . The ultimate sacrifice . Solo tried to escape from Shrike several more times , but each attempt ended with the boy being severely beaten . After one debacle in 12 BBY — when Solo , feeling cocky after winning the gladiatorial Jubilar - Free - For - All , attempted to take on Shrike — he was left with thoroughly split lips , and Dewlannamapia had to feed him mush for a week until they healed . In 10 BBY , the nineteen - year - old Solo decided to undertake another escape attempt . Having obtained a blaster , Solo made his way to " Trader ' s Luck " galley to say goodbye to Dewlannamapia . He informed her that he was planning to stow away aboard the " Ylesian Dream " , an automated droid freighter that was docked to " Trader ' s Luck " and was due to depart soon . He would then make his way to the planet Ylesia , a religious colony near Hutt Space that offered pilgrims sanctuary from the outside universe . The Ylesian priests were also looking for a pilot , and Solo hoped to take the job , having already spent all his money to send them a message and tell the priests that he would be coming for a job interview . Solo also told the Wookiee that he would send for her once he had settled on Ylesia . Upon hearing that Solo did not have any money left , Dewlannamapia offered all her savings to the Corellian . The latter initially protested but eventually accepted the money , assuring the Wookiee that he would return the debt . At that moment , Shrike entered the galley , accompanied by two more crew members , his brother Larrad and the Elomin Brafid . Shrike accused Solo of betrayal and threatened him with another beating and Devaronian blood - poisoning . Trying to protect Solo , Dewlannamapia stood between him and Shrike , although Solo unsuccessfully tried to convince her not to intervene . A fight broke out , during which Brafid was shot by Solo , and Larrad was incapacitated by Dewlannamapia , who broke his arm . Shrike then aimed his blaster at Solo , ordering Dewlannamapia to cease fighting lest he kill him . The Wookiee complied , and Solo dropped his own weapon and surrendered . However , Shrike said that he was condemning Solo to death and prepared to kill him . In the last moment , Dewlannamapia shoved Solo aside and leaped at Shrike , catching the blaster bolt right in the chest . Angered , Solo tackled Shrike ; the latter fell and his head impacted on the deck , knocking him out . When Solo rushed to Dewlannamapia ' s side , she told him to escape from the ship as fast as possible , but the Corellian wished to remain with her to comfort her until she died . Telling him that he would make her sacrifice meaningless if he refused to go , Dewlannamapia wished Solo a good and happy life , telling him that she would be fine after death , as she would become one with the Force . Leaving the Wookiee on the galley floor , Solo rushed to the docking bay , where he boarded the " Ylesian Dream " . Dewlannamapia died , but her sacrifice allowed Solo to escape from " Trader ' s Luck " . Legacy . Having come to regard Dewlannamapia as the mother he never had , Solo missed the Wookiee deeply , and the memories of her death brought emotional pain to him for long afterward . He often imagined Dewlannamapia alive , and those images were so real that he at times could almost hear her voice . Solo swore to himself that he would repay Dewlannamapia by helping her people at any opportunity . After a series of adventures , Solo made his way to the galactic capital of Coruscant to apply for the Academy of Carida in hopes of becoming a pilot in the Imperial Navy . Shrike , who had survived the brawl aboard " Trader ' s Luck " , tracked him there but was killed by a bounty hunter , whom Solo in turn killed . Utchakkaloch also became aware of his mother ' s death , although he did not know of the exact circumstances surrounding it . After successfully graduating from the Academy , Solo was given the rank of lieutenant . His service with the Galactic Empire was relatively short , however . Around 5 BBY , Solo saved a Wookiee slave named Chewbacca — Dewlannamapia ' s distant relative — from being killed by Commander Nyklas on Coruscant . Solo helped the Wookiee escape slavery , was discharged from the Navy , and became a smuggler . Chewbacca also swore a life debt to Solo and refused to leave his side , much to the Corellian ' s dismay , as he wanted to be left alone and felt that he had saved the Wookiee only to repay Dewlannamapia . He soon changed his mind and came to consider Chewbacca his best friend . In 2 BBY , Solo attended the wedding of Chewbacca and his mate Mallatobuck on Kashyyyk . It was there that he met Utchakkaloch , who wanted to know how his mother had died . Solo told him that his mother had died a hero while protecting him from Shrike and that she had been avenged when Shrike had been killed . Utchakkaloch was glad to hear this , and he accepted Solo as his " adoptive brother , " since they had been raised by the same " mother . " As of 25 ABY , Solo still felt that Dewlannamapia ' s loving upbringing , among other deeds and sacrifices that his Wookiee friends had made for him over the years , made Solo indebted to the Wookiees rather than the other way around . He expressed this belief when he tried to discourage Chewbacca ' s son Lumpawaroo and nephew Lowbacca from taking on Chewbacca ' s life debt in the wake of the latter ' s death . In his interviews to the New Republic ' s — and later , the Galactic Alliance ' s — Historical Council , Solo remembered Dewlannamapia as the only bright spot in his early life . Personality and traits . Almost six hundred years of age at the time of her death , Dewlannamapia was considered old even by Wookiee standards . She had blue eyes . Her fur was initially tan in color , but it began graying with age . She was devoted to her mate Isshaddik , willingly following him into exile — although she was not required to do so — and never speaking of his crime . After joining the crew of " Trader ' s Luck " , Dewlannamapia developed a bond with the young Han Solo . She became the closest thing that the Corellian had to a mother or , due to her old age , a grandmother . She often ruffled up his hair so that he looked attractively " scruffy , " with his hair standing up like a Wookiee ' s , despite Solo ' s protests . Dewlannamapia deeply worried for Solo ' s health and well - being , ensuring that he had the best possible education and paying for his treatment when he was struck with Corellian Tanamen Fever . Dewlannamapia went to great lengths to help the young Corellian . She learned how to play sabacc with the sole purpose of spending more time with Garris Shrike and learning Han ' s last name , and she gave the boy all of her savings when he approached her to say goodbye . Shortly after this , she willingly took a blaster shot intended for Solo so that he could continue to live and be happy . Overall , Solo considered her to be a hero who had sacrificed her life to save his . In his adult life , he remembered both Dewlannamapia ' s love and wisdom , recalling old Wookiee proverbs she used to tell him , such as , " Joy unmixed with sorrow is suspect " and " To have a good memory is to be both blessed and cursed … " Unlike the majority of " Trader ' s Luck " occupants , Dewlannamapia was not afraid of Shrike , openly arguing with him , defying him , and violating his orders on several occasions . Dewlannamapia was usually calm and lovable , but she fell into a battle rage when trying to protect Solo during his successful escape attempt . She fought fiercely , grabbing Larrad Shrike by the wrist , spinning and snapping him like a whip , and ultimately breaking his arm . Dewlannamapia was a believer in the Force , which , due to the intricacies of Shyriiwook , Solo mistranslated as " life - power . " She believed in it steadfastly and was certain that she would become a spirit in the afterlife , safe with the Force . Although Dewlannamapia was unable to speak Basic , she easily understood it . She was also a capable pilot , competently handling the controls of the shuttle she took to deliver Solo to a medical droid on Corellia . Dewlannamapia was a very good cook , and she was given a place aboard " Trader ' s Luck " mainly because Shrike liked her cooking , although not to the point that he considered her indispensable . Dewlannamapia often baked Solo ' s favorite wastril bread and prepared nerf sausage s . When translated from Shyriiwook to Basic , Dewlannamapia ' s name had several parts . " Dew " meant " fierce , stern , stout " ; " lanna " meant " cry , growl " or " roar " ; and " mapia " stood for " rain , season , " or " storm . " Behind the scenes . Dewlannamapia first appeared in the 1997 novel " The Paradise Snare " , the first volume of " The Han Solo Trilogy " written by Ann Crispin . Although the Wookiee was killed in the same story , she was mentioned in both the second and third installments of the trilogy , " The Hutt Gambit " and " Rebel Dawn " , as well as in several other novels and reference books . Nevertheless , " The Paradise Snare " remains her only appearance . Although Dewlannamapia first appeared in " The Paradise Snare " , the character ' s origins can be traced back to George Lucas ' s 1974 of what would eventually become . According to the version of the rough draft available on the web site of the Jedi Bendu , a group of fans who collect copies of early drafts of " Star Wars " movie scripts , " Dewanna " was a huge male " Wookee " who lived on the Wookee planet of Yavin . He and several other Wookees were captured by several Yourellian trappers but were rescued by R2 - D2 and Annikin Starkiller , who had arrived on Yavin while escaping from the Sith . During the fight , Starkiller was knocked unconscious and Dewanna carried him to the Wookee camp to meet the father of Chewbacca , Auzituck , the chief of the Kaapauku tribe . A Dewlannamapia appears in James Luceno ' s 2003 novel " " , the final installment in " " series , attending the dedication of a memorial portrait to the late Chewbacca on Kashyyyk . However , as the novel is set thirty - nine years after Dewlannamapia ' s death , the Wookiee in " The Unifying Force " must be another individual .