Pueblo of Zuni
Pueblo of Zuni
1203B State Highway 53 (Off U.S. 40)
Zuni, NM
n the border of New Mexico and Arizona is the Pueblo of Zuni, which was once home to one of the most famous "two-spirited" people, We'wha (1849-1896). In Zuni culture, We'wha was a lhamana, an individual who combined male and female work and social roles and often dressed in women's clothing. (Among whites, such individuals were commonly known as "berdaches," a French colonialist word meaning "slave boy.") A lhamana was neither exclusively female or male; of We'wha, they said, "She is a man."
Today, the Zuni still relate stories about We'wha, an accomplished weaver and potter who was one of the first Zuni to sell wares for cash. In the late 19th century, anthropologist Mathilda Coxe Stevenson described We'wha as "the strongest character and the most intelligent of the Zuni tribe." In 1886, We'wha spent six months in Washington as Stevenson's guest, becoming the hit of the capital's social scene and being generally accepted as an "Indian princess."
In many photographs at the Smithsonian Institution, We'wha can be seen weaving in front of the family dwelling, which was located in the southeast corner of the pueblo. Today, the Pueblo of Zuni is open daily to "respectful guests."
Paula Martinac is the author of six books and numerous articles on LGBT topics. Her blog, The Queerest Places, chronicles LGBT historic sites. She holds an M.A. in history and works for a community development organization in Pittsburgh, PA.
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