Shiyo! This week I wanted to share the story of a Two Spirit pioneer, Osh-Tisch (Crow). Osh-Tisch (1854-1929), whose name translates to “Finds Them and Kills Them,” was a member of the badé (also spelled baté) in the Crow Nation. Badé means “not man, not woman,” and was a sacred and well respected community within Crow society. Osh-Tisch “was an assigned-male-at-birth woman and was one of the last of the Crow Nation” to be a part of the bade—the community would be persecuted and driven underground by Christian missionaries. She earned her name in 1876 at the Battle of the Rosebud. Pretty Shield recounted to historians, “During the battle, a Crow warrior was wounded and fell from his horse. Sensing an opportunity, the Lakota charged forward to collect his scalp. In response, Osh-Tisch jumped off her horse, stood over him, and started shooting at the approaching Lakota ‘as rapidly as she could load her gun.’”
By the 1890s, the Crow had been militarily defeated and were confined to the reservation system. A federal Indian Agent named Briskow was placed in charge of the Crow reservation, and he made one of his priorities attacking the traditional role and acceptance of badé within Crow society. Briskow forced the bade, including Osh-Tisch, to cut their hair, wear men’s clothing, and perform traditional men’s activities. It was a tragic time for Two Spirit people: “Unfortunately, harsh treatment from whites was not at all uncommon during this time, and a great many Two Spirits from other tribes ended up committing suicide after being forced into binary gender roles. A Lakota man described the treatment thusly: “I heard sad stories of winktes [Lakota Two Spirits] committing suicide, hanging themselves rather than change . . . after that, those who remained would put on man’s clothing.” Eventually, Osh-Tisch and all Crow badés were imprisoned under Briskow’s orders. Chief Pretty Eagle led a charge to get the women released, which was eventually successful and also led to the resignation of Agent Briskow.
After her release, Osh-Tisch spent the rest of her life trying to explain and defend herself and the tradition of the badé to the missionaries and government workers who continued their efforts at undermining and erasing this aspect of Crow culture. Of her efforts it has been written, “In every case, her white contemporaries (who usually referred to her as “him”) would ask her questions like why she wore women’s clothes. She’d reply that she was “inclined to be a woman, never a man.” When they asked what work she did, she said, “All woman’s work,” and, with no small amount of pride, produced an ornate dress she’d made. Her entire life she tried to explain and normalize what and who she was. Under her leadership, a quiet intertribe outreach effort began to emerge, linking all the different tribes’ Two Spirits in secret communication in an attempt to facilitate understanding.”
Osh-Tisch died in 1929. “With no others to take up the role of baté,” one author writes, “the institution died out, and its ancient knowledge with it.” Similar losses occurred all across Indian Country.
PS: I found this book while doing some research on Osh-Tisch that looks awesome! It’s called Rejected Princesses. Might be worth your time!
No comments:
Post a Comment