Native American Female Warriors

Oftentimes, it is the males who are highlighted when it comes to different accounts of Native Americans. Also, when talking about warriors, men often come to mind, right? However, believe it or not, there is a rich history of Native American female warriors. It can be said that it is against the status quo, but it the realness of it cannot be denied by history itself. So, why is it that female Indians do not exactly feel to the title of Native American women warriors?

Native American Female Warriors
Native American Female Warriors

The Role of Warriors

Being a warrior often correlates to having to kill someone, to exercise violence, and to be fearless. By this alone, it is already understandable why the idea female Native American warriors do not exactly sit well in the perception of others, especially in present times. Women are supposed to be the nurturer of the population, they are supposed to be at home instead of being outside creating threats and participating in violent interactions. Warriors are often present in wars, protecting their territories and launching weapons to enemies. Their aggressiveness is far too contrasting to the image of women that people often have in their minds.

 

Native American Female Warriors
Native American Female Warriors

And yet, it is true. Female Indian warriors, though not as many as the male, are indeed part of the Native American history. Their contributions are not something that can be downplayed by anyone who has known their strength and commitment.

Native American Female Warriors – Who Are They?

Being part of a Native American tribe, females in the past are not as modest as today’s people would think. Their roles in during the early days of Native Americans include skinning animals, cutting them, and cleaning their blood. They are used to handling raw parts of animals in their preparation for food. By this alone, it can be said that Native American women are already not that ignorant of death and violence. A female Indian Warrior carries the responsibilities as its male counterparts. Native American woman face paint is also common to for Indian warrior woman. The face paints incorporate different meanings and are often applied with respect to different rituals, dances, and battles.

Native American Female Warriors - Face Paint
Native American Female Warriors – Face Paint

Role of a Native American Female Warrior

Basically, an Indian woman warrior has different roles depending on what tribe she belongs. In some tribes, a Native woman warrior is given the responsibility of torturing prisoners. In some, she is given the role of the mutilator of the bodies of the fallen. Basically, an Indian woman warrior is also subjected to high degrees of violence, grossness, and death. Female Native American warrior also goes to raiding activities along with their male counterparts. However, with Male warrior usually being characterized as a constant to the war itself, Native American warrior woman also plays a crucial role in important ceremonies of different tribes.

One ceremony where an Indian warrior woman is always sought after is during Scalp dance, wherein she takes revenge on the murderer of her husband by putting the murderer’s scalp on a stick and wave and whirl it to the fire, and kick it. Through the course of time, Native American female warriors have risen into ranks same as the males. There was no reason for them not to, considering that they also have the strength, the commitment, and at times, the strategic capabilities in parallel of the male warriors, or even better.

Through history, there are many records regarding different famous Native American women warriors. These women have risen to prestige because of their significant contributions to their tribes. Some known famous female warriors are the Fallen Leaf, Running Eagle, Colestah, and Buffalo Calf Robe. These Native American female warriors are have proven their strength in working through wars with the male warriors, and they have strengthened the moral of the female Native Americans during their time. A Native American warrior woman is far from being inferior to man, regardless of their physical look and perceived role in the society.

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