LOZEN ORGANICS
Lozen, of the Chiricahua Apache
(Sources: "Woman Spirit" by Julia White; "From Sacajawea to Sojourner Truth" by Kiriyo Spooner;
and Wikipedia)
Lozen was born into the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apache in the 1840's. She was a warrior who rode and fought alongside Geronimo and her older brother Chief Victorio in the Apache wars in the late 1800's, and is the most famous of the Apache War Women. Lozen was born in a section of New Mexico/Arizona/Northern Mexico known at that time as Apacheria.
At her puberty ceremony, Lozen was given the power to find the enemy which she did by going alone to a deserted spot, praying with her arms outstretched and her open palms heavenward. It is said that as she prayed, she turned until she felt a tingling in her palms and knew that she had found the direction of the enemy and that she could tell the distance of the enemy by the intensity of the tingling. Lozen never married, and devoted her life to the service of her people. Victorio is quoted to have said that "Lozen is my right hand... strong as a man, braver than most, and cunning in strategy. Lozen is a shield to her people."
In addition to her considerable skill as a warrior, Lozen was also a skilled reconnaissance scout and clever battle strategist. She took part in warrior's ceremonies, sang war songs, and directed the dances of the war parties before going into battle. Lozen was also a gifted medicine woman, midwife, seer and shaman.
The Chiricahuas were forced onto the Warm Springs Apache Reservation in San Carlos, Arizona, a desert land run by agents who stole much of the money meant to buy food for the Apaches. Many people died of smallpox and malaria. Not surprisingly, groups repeatedly fled, and Victorio led a band of 320 Apaches in an escape on September 2, 1877, trying to return to their homelands at Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. Lozen was among them. In retaliation for the Chiricahua Apaches' success at resisting imprisonment, the entire band, over 500 people, was deported from Arizona. Lozen was among the Apache ringleaders shipped by train from In 1888 they were reunited with the main band in Alabama. The main band of Chiricahuas were interned at Mount Vernon Barracks in Marion, Alabama, where they stayed until 1894. They lived in tents while they built their own log cabins, but there was no furniture, and the Apaches were cheated of food and supplies. Public attention to their miserable living conditions finally forced some reforms. A large number of Apaches died, mostly of pneumonia, meningitis, malaria and tuberculosis. The post doctor also reported deaths due to depression at their conditions.
The desperate band stole food and horses, ran from and fought off both American and Mexican soldiers, and survived on the run for three years throughout Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. On October 15, 1880, in a surprise attack called the Battle of Tres Castillos, Victorio and over 100 others were killed by Mexican military forces. Only 17 Apaches escaped; 68 others were captured, and sold as slaves. Lozen was not with them; she had dropped back to care for a woman giving birth. It was said that had she been with them, the group never have been surprised.
Lozen worked her way south and joined up with Geronimo’s band, and she was among the 36 Apaches with Geronimo at his final surrender in August of 1886. She had lived nine years on the run.
Most accounts say Lozen died of tuberculosis there around 1890. She is buried in an unmarked grave.
