One historical “third-gendered” Native person was Osh-Tisch (far left picture). Osh-Tisch was assigned as male at birth but dressed in women’s clothes and performed women’s roles in her tribe in the Crow Nation. Occasionally, Osh-Tisch would dress in men’s clothes and would fight as a warrior. Osh-Tisch was considered a leader among other “third-gendered” peoples in her tribe.
Another historical “third-gendered” Native person was Charlie the Weaver (middle-left). He was a member of the Navajo tribe and he was a weaver, which was an art form usually done by women of the tribe. Charlie was known for wearing clothing that differed from both male and female styles.
Hasteen Klah was another well-known “third-gendered” Native person (middle-right). Hasteen Klah was a Navajo medicine man and master weaver. The Navajos believed that Hasteen Klah was honored by the Gods and was expected to master both the female role of weaving and the male role of medicine man. Hasteen Klah mastered eight different Navajo spiritual ceremonies while the typical medicine person only mastered two. To add, Hasteen Klah created sand painting style Navajo rugs, many of which are hanging in museums.
We’wha was also a historical “third-gendered” Native person (far right). We’wha was a cultural ambassador for her Zuni Pueblo people. She was known for her artistry as a weaver and a potter. She was also active in her community’s ceremonies and religious societies. Considered “most intelligent person in the pueblo and loved by all children, to whom he was ever so kind,” anthropologists studied her artwork and interviewed her on her Zuni culture and religion.
Another historical “third-gendered” Native person was Charlie the Weaver (middle-left). He was a member of the Navajo tribe and he was a weaver, which was an art form usually done by women of the tribe. Charlie was known for wearing clothing that differed from both male and female styles.
Hasteen Klah was another well-known “third-gendered” Native person (middle-right). Hasteen Klah was a Navajo medicine man and master weaver. The Navajos believed that Hasteen Klah was honored by the Gods and was expected to master both the female role of weaving and the male role of medicine man. Hasteen Klah mastered eight different Navajo spiritual ceremonies while the typical medicine person only mastered two. To add, Hasteen Klah created sand painting style Navajo rugs, many of which are hanging in museums.
We’wha was also a historical “third-gendered” Native person (far right). We’wha was a cultural ambassador for her Zuni Pueblo people. She was known for her artistry as a weaver and a potter. She was also active in her community’s ceremonies and religious societies. Considered “most intelligent person in the pueblo and loved by all children, to whom he was ever so kind,” anthropologists studied her artwork and interviewed her on her Zuni culture and religion.