Among the Apache Indian tribes in the American Southwest the role between men and women used to be very clearly defined. With each holding a special place within society that was valued and respected by the other.
Today, of course that is changing because of the corrupting influence of the White man and western education on Apache cultural beliefs.
With that being said you did have women arise in the not to distant past who by sheer force of their individual personality pushed the boundaries to the extreme and took their rightful place as leaders in their own right within Apache culture and history!
Around the turn of the twentieth century, one such woman emerged and took her place among some of the greatest Apache warriors who ever lived.
In fact she fought along side the likes of Geronimo and Victorio – the great war chief.
Her name was “Lozen”, a Warm Springs band of the Tchihendeh (or Chihenne, usually called Mimbreño) Apache tribe. Not much is know of her early childhood…
It was said however she was so accurate with the bow and rifle as to be unmatched among all the Apache warriors at the time, including Geronimo!
She is described in vague accounts as being “incredibly beautiful”, at the same time tough as nails – who could easily kill a full grown man without much effort.
At her womanhood ceremony, men both old and young courted her to such extremes as they would fight one another over her attention and favor! She however refused to marry any one of them, choosing instead to follow the path of a warrior woman instead. Which was highly unusual in Apache culture.
Like Geronimo Lozen possessed great “Power!”
Power was defined as an intangible attribute that every human being has, whether they realize it or not. For some it was reflected in incredible abilities, such as extrasensory perception (esp), or healing.
“Power is everywhere. It lives in everything. It might be known through a word or come in the shape of an animal. We all have power but some tap into different rooms. Power speaks to those who listen. The greatest thing a person can have in Apache belief is power!” Apache Medicine Man 1889
Power was a central core belief in the cultural and religious belief of the Apache people. It was meant for doing good, healing the sick, seeing the enemy approaching…ect. With power came great responsibility it was said.
In Lozen”s case her “Power” centered on her incredible ability to locate the enemy, spot weaknesses, seize the initiative on the battlefield, inspire courage and overcome incredible odds. She was also considered a medicine woman, who had the ability to cure disease, communicate with animals and birds. And tell if someone was lying or not.
Her methodology for success in war involved praying to Ussen (the Supreme Diety in Apache religious belief).
It was said she would stand with her “arms outstretched and turn in slow circles, singing and chanting prayers”, until at such time her palms tingled and her hands shook- then she knew the direction of the enemy (and sometimes their exact location and strength).
In talking with elders among the White Mountain Apache tribe about all this, it seems Lozen entered into some kind of self induced trance state. Although the particulars of how she did this are unknown.
Today Lozen is remember by the stories and legends told about her, passed down over generations.
For me its quite interesting. A recent search of her name on the internet search engine “Google” returned over a half million hits.
Among the older Apache people I talk to on an almost regular basis I’ve noticed that the mere mention of her name has an almost magical effect on some people, with many becoming very excited just talking about her. Remember she has been dead for over a hundred years.
In my case Lozen is some what of a haunting and tragic figure within the Apache culture, who must of died with a profound sense of sadness in her heart over the genocide of her people by the White man – who were not just satisfied on killing her people but was trying to destroy the Apache culture as well.
May she find peace and comfort in the afterlife, from all the trials, tribulations and hardships she must have endured in this earthy life of pain and sorrow.
See related video: Lozen Warrior woman of the Apache https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tLSkgzXKzw, part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MKlZQVMoq4, part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK7tgMdMP7Q , part 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0_DhHqSoo , part 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpjR3h2KuJA
See related articles: Apache mysticism, magic and religious belief threatened today with extinction https://groundreport.com/apache-mysticism-magic-and-religious-belief-threatened-today-with-extinction/
See article: Geronimo had a mystical vision that gave him power on the battlefield https://groundreport.com/geronimo-had-a-mystical-vision-that-gave-him-power-on-the-battlefield/
See article: Geronimo eluded capture by following well established principles of unconventional warfare https://groundreport.com/geronimo-eluded-capture-by-following-well-established-principles-of-unconventional-warfare/
See article: They called him the “Dreamer” – the life (and death) of an Apache medicine man! https://groundreport.com/they-called-him-the-dreamer-the-life-of-an-apache-medicine-man/