We’wha, Zuni Lhamana
1886
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We'wha (1849-1896) was a lhamana of the Zuni tribe, a person who embodied both masculine and feminine traits and roles. Lhamanas were outside the gender binary system of male and female.
We’wha visited Washington, DC, in 1886, meeting President Grover Cleveland and many members of Congress. They all assumed that We’wha was what we would now refer to as a cisgender woman.
The original caption for this photograph reads: We-Wa, a Zuni berdache, full length portrait.
Note: The original caption for this photograph uses the term "berdache" to describe We’wha. This term, which was commonly used by anthropologists, is outdated and considered offensive.
We’wha visited Washington, DC, in 1886, meeting President Grover Cleveland and many members of Congress. They all assumed that We’wha was what we would now refer to as a cisgender woman.
The original caption for this photograph reads: We-Wa, a Zuni berdache, full length portrait.
Note: The original caption for this photograph uses the term "berdache" to describe We’wha. This term, which was commonly used by anthropologists, is outdated and considered offensive.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Smithsonian Institution.
National Archives Identifier: 523798
Full Citation: Photograph 106-IN-2384DB; We’wha, Zuni Lhamana; 1886; Photographic Negatives of Native American Delegations and Archaeology of the Southwestern United States, 1879 - 1907; Records of the Smithsonian Institution, Record Group 106; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/wewha, January 25, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
