"In Washington, D.C., a visiting celebrity of 1885 was from the Zuni tribe of
the southwestern United States. Described as a priestess and a princess, the
young woman named WeWha was 6 feet tall, with a self-possessed and dignified
demeanor. WeWha had come to Washington on a diplomatic mission to represent the
Zuni people, and her activities were reported in the newspapers. She
demonstrated traditional weaving techniques, attended high society gatherings,
and met the president. What was not described in the reports was that WeWha was
a gender-fluid person, a lhamana, respected and acknowledged as such by her
tribe."
What follows is an edited excerpt from Gregory D. Smithers the book,
Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in
Native America.
