13. We’wha: The “Two-spirited” Zuni tribesman who made it big in America as an Indian Princess.
In 1849, the Zuni tribe of New Mexico and American settlers become allies when they had banded together against their common foes the Navajos and Apaches. In 1877, American missionaries finally settled amongst the Zuni and began to experience the uniqueness of their culture firsthand. For amongst their domestic help was We’wha, a well-respected Zuni tribesman, who confused them by dressing like a woman and performing female tasks. This contradiction occurred because We’Wha was a lhamana or “two-spirited”; a male at birth but gifted with blended male and female characteristics.
The Zuni accepted Lhamana as a third gender. At puberty, Lhamana underwent Zuni manhood ceremonies, but they also dressed as women and were taught female tasks. This blending of roles proved equally confusing to American anthropologist Matilda Cox Stevenson who befriended We’wha in 1879. She described We’wha as “the strongest character and the most intelligent of the Zuni tribe” and marveled how his word was Law amongst men and women. However, she claimed she did not know her friend was a man until after his death. Cox Stevenson introduced We’Wha to Washington society, which accepted him as a Native American Princess. However, the lhamana soon returned home- to lead a revolt by the Zuni against their American allies.