#osh-tisch

Ohchiish (known in English sources as Osh-Tisch) was born in the Crow nation in 1854. They were a batée, a Crow gender describing people assigned male at birth but performing largely female social roles, as well as some unique batée roles. Batée like Osh-Tisch were respected for their spiritual connections and their skills as artisans.

In the 1870s white US agents imprisoned Osh-Tisch and other batée, forcing them to cut their hair and don male clothing. Crow chiefs came to their defence, showing the respect their had within their community. With the support of their community, Osh-Tisch continued to express their gender identity. They maintained a wide network of friends amongst neighbouring nations, and had a reputation for being the best poker player in the region.

Osh-Tisch passed away in 1928, aged 75.

To celebrate Pride Month this year Dean made 30 portraits of queer people from history!

Starting at the top left there is Tamara Łempicka, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, Sappho, Magnus Hirschfeld, Sophia Parnok, Reinaldo Arenas, Rita Hester, Brenda Fassie, Yosano Akiko, Federico García Lorca, Joël Gustave Nana Ngongang, Holly Woodlawn, David Kato, Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, Albert Cashier, Osh-Tisch, Carmen Rupe, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Salim Halali, Michelle Cliff, Langston Hughes, Marlene Dietrich, FannyAnn Eddy, Chrystos, Maryam Khatoon Molkara, Sir Ewan Forbes, Frida Kahlo, Josephine Baker, Jackie Shane, and Lou Sullivan.

You can read about them all on makingqueerhistory.com and buy them on Redbubble

Queering Up History: Osh-Tisch

[Image Description: A stylized portrait of Osh-Tisch, a Crow badé with a medium complexion and long, dark hair.]

Indigenous Peoples Day

Today on the second Monday in October, the USA celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day.

Despite colonial efforts to erase them, there have been and continue to be many unique Indigenous gender identities and sexualities around what is now called the USA, and many Two-spirit and queer Indigenous stories to tell. If you’d like to start learning more, you can check out a few of our podcasts on these topics:

We’wha was a Zuni lhamana - a gender including both masculine and feminine roles. A highly skilled craftsperson, We’wha travelled to Washington DC in 1885 as a representative of the Zuni people, where they worked with anthropologists and the Smithsonian museum to demonstrate and share information about Zuni crafts and culture.

Ohchiish (Osh-Tisch) was a batée born in the 19th-century Crow Nation. Batée is a uniquely Crow gender identity, describing a person assigned male at birth, who performs female as well as specifically batée social roles. Ohchiish was a renowned craftsperson, brave fighter, and the best poker player in the region. In the face of attempts by the US government to force assimilation to Western ideas of gender, their community fought for their right to express their identity.

Bíawacheeitchish (Woman Chief) was a Gros Ventre woman who lived amongst the Crow, having been taken as a captive at a young age. She was skilled in traditionally masculine pursuits like riding, hunting and warfare. Her military prowess led to her becoming one of the most respected Crow chiefs. Polygamy was common amongst the Crow, and Bíawacheeitchish married four women.

Kapaemahu is a monument commemorating the visit of four healers to Honolulu in around the 1500s - the monument consists of four huge stones which are still recognised as a sacred site today. The healers were māhū, a gender recognised in Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawai’ian) culture.

Pride 2022 16/30: Osh-Tisch

Osh-Tisch was born in the Crow nation in 1854. They were a batée, a Crow gender describing people assigned male at birth but performing largely female social roles, as well as some unique batée roles. Batée were respected for their spiritual connections and their skills as artisans. Osh-Tisch, a skilled craftsperson and medicine-person, became recognised as their leader.

In 1876, around 175 Crow warriors including Osh-Tisch joined the US army in the fight against their traditional enemies, the Lakota and Cheyenne. Fighting alongside female warrior The Other Magpie, Osh-Tisch distinguished themself at the Battle of the Rosebud, saving the life of Crow warrior Bull Snake.

In the 1870s under the governance of white US agents, Osh-Tisch and other batée were forced to wear male clothing and had their hair cut, as well as being imprisoned and forced to do manual labour. On two occasions, Crow chiefs came to their defence, in part because of Osh-Tisch’s respected standing in their community.

In their later life, Osh-Tisch continued to express their gender identity, and retain their respected status in their community. They maintained a wide network of friends amongst neighbouring nations, and had a reputation for being the best poker player in the region. Osh-Tisch passed away in 1928, aged 75.

learn more with queer as fact: a queer history podcast

Pride 2021: Osh-Tisch

Osh-Tisch was born in the Crow nation in 1854. They said of their gender that since birth they were “inclined to be a woman, never a man”, and identified as batée, a Crow gender describing people assigned male at birth but performing largely female social roles, as well as some unique batée roles. Batée were respected for their spiritual connections and their skills as artisans. Osh-Tisch, a skilled craftsperson and medicine-person, became recognised as their leader.

In 1876, around 175 Crow warriors including Osh-Tisch joined the US army in the fight against their traditional enemies, the Lakota and Cheyenne. Fighting alongside female warrior The Other Magpie, Osh-Tisch distinguished themself at the Battle of the Rosebud, saving the life of Crow warrior Bull Snake.

In the 1870s under the governance of white US agents, Osh-Tisch and other batée were forced to wear male clothing and had their hair cut, as well as being imprisoned and forced to do manual labour. On two occasions, Crow chiefs came to their defence, in part because of Osh-Tisch’s respected standing in their community.

In their later life, Osh-Tisch continued to express their gender identity, and retain their respected status in their community. They maintained a wide network of friends amongst neighbouring nations, and had a reputation for being the best poker player in the region. Osh-Tisch passed away in 1928, aged 75.

learn more with queer as fact: a queer history podcast

pride 2020 07/30 | osh-tisch

Osh-Tisch was a batée born in the 19th-century Crow Nation. Batée is a uniquely Crow gender identity, describing a person assigned male at birth, who performs female as well as specifically batée social roles. Osh-Tisch was renowned for their skills as a craftsperson, their bravery in the 1876 Battle of the Rosebud, and as the best poker player in the region. In the face of attempts by the US government to force assimilation to Western ideas of gender, Osh-Tisch’s community fought for their right to express their identity.

learn more with queer as fact: a queer history podcast