Barcheeampe, Woman Chief of the Crow Indians of the Upper Missouri

Born into the Gros Ventres group, Barcheeampe (Pine Leaf) was taken prisoner when she was ten years old and raised as the daughter of a Crow Indian warrior. As a young girl she strove to learn traditional male skills, such as using a bow and arrow, guarding and riding horses, and shooting a gun. Barcheeampe excelled in these activities, eventually assuming responsibility for her family after her father's death.

Also known as Woman Chief, Barcheeampe became a hero to the Crow people after she led a successful defense against an attack by the Blackfoot Nation. Many other successful war excursions followed, and when a council of the Crow Nation gathered she sat with all the chiefs and warriors, ranking third among the 160 lodges represented.

Barcheeampe married four women, each time giving her bride's family the traditional gift of horses. Ironically, she was killed in 1854 while on a peace-making mission to the Gros Ventres people, from which she had been kidnapped many years before. Her bravery honored in song, Woman Chief was raised to a level of respect and honor uncommon even for male warriors.

from: Gay and Lesbian Knowledge Cards

posted by brooke at July 27, 2002 05:51:42 PM