We'wha A:Shiwi (Zuni) artist We'wha photographed between 1871 and 1896. (more) We’wha Shiwi artist Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wewha Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wewha Also known as: We’wah, We:wa, Wewhe Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 6, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Quick Facts Also styled: We:wa, Wewhe, or We’wah (Show more) Born: c. 1849, Zuni River Valley [now western New Mexico and eastern Arizona] (Show more) Died: c. December 1896, western New Mexico (Show more) Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question We’wha (born c. 1849, Zuni River Valley [now western New Mexico and eastern Arizona]—died c. December 1896, western New Mexico) was a potter, textile artist, weaver, spiritual leader, and A:Shiwi (Zuni) cultural ambassador who is perhaps the most well-known lhamana. The A:Shiwi people’s term for “two-spirit,” a lhamana is an individual who takes on attributes of men and women. Like other lhamanas, We’wha was born male but usually dressed in women’s attire and practiced the tasks of men and women. According to the National Women’s History Museum, which is based in Washington, D.C., “Lhamana constituted a socially-recognized third gender role ...(100 of 562 words)

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