Osh-Tisch facts for kids
Osh-Tisch (whose name in the Crow means "Finds Them and Kills Them") was a special person in the Crow tribe. Osh-Tisch was a badé (pronounced bah-DAY). In the Crow community, a badé was a male-bodied person who took on many important social and ceremonial roles that were often done by women. They were highly respected members of their community.
Who Was Osh-Tisch?
Osh-Tisch was a brave warrior. In 1876, Osh-Tisch fought in the Battle of the Rosebud. This battle was a big fight between the U.S. Army and its allies (including the Crow) against the Lakota and Cheyenne tribes. During this battle, Osh-Tisch and another woman named The Other Magpie saved a Crow warrior named Bull Snake. Osh-Tisch also shot a Lakota warrior during the fight. Because of this bravery, Osh-Tisch earned the name "Finds Them and Kills Them."
Challenges Faced by the Badé
In the late 1890s, a U.S. government official named Briskow came to the Crow lands. This official was an "Indian agent," meaning he was sent by the government to manage Native American tribes. His goal was to force the Plains Indians to "assimilate," which means to make them live and act like the dominant American culture.
Agent Briskow did not understand or respect the Crow way of life. He arrested Osh-Tisch and other badés. He forced them to cut their hair short, wear men's clothes, and do hard physical labor like planting trees. The Crow people were very upset by this. They valued their badés greatly, especially for their skills in needlework and cooking. They felt this treatment was wrong and went against the nature of the badés.
Chief Pretty Eagle, a powerful Crow leader, stepped in. He used his influence to make Agent Briskow resign and leave the tribal lands. A Crow historian named Joe Medicine Crow later said in 1982 that trying to change the badés was "a tragedy."
The Legacy of the Badé
Osh-Tisch was one of the last known badés of the Crow Nation. The traditional role of the badé became less common during Osh-Tisch's lifetime. However, in modern times, some people are working to bring back these important traditions. They may connect with the modern two-spirit community, which is a term used by some Native Americans to describe people who have both masculine and feminine spirits. This shows how ancient traditions can find new life in today's world.
