Notes on Culture Element Distributions

 The Culture Element Distributions series can be viewed online for free through UC Berkeley Library digital collections.

  1. Klimek, S., & Kroeber, A. L. (1935). Culture Element Distributions: I: The Structure of California Indian Culture. Anthropological Records 37(1):1-70. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/82933?ln=en&v=pdf
  2. *Gifford, E. W., & Klimek, S. (1936). Culture element distributions: II: Yana. Anthropological Records 37(2):71-100. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/82937?ln=en&v=pdf
  3. Kroeber, A. L., & Kroeber, A. L. (1936). Culture Element Distributions: III. Area and Climax. Anthropological Records 37(3):101-115. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/82935?ln=en&v=pdf
  4. *Gifford, E. W., & Kroeber, A. L. (1937). Culture Element Distributions: IV: PomoAnthropological Records 37(4):117-254. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/82939?ln=en&v=pdf
  5. *Drucker, P. (1937). Culture Element Distributions: V, Southern California, by Philip Drucker. [Preface by AL Kroeber.]. Anthropological Records 1(1):1-52. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84110?ln=en&v=pdf
  6. Driver, H. E. (1937). Culture Element Distributions: VI, Southern Sierra Nevada, by Harold E. Driver.[Preface by AL Kroeber.]. Anthropological Records 1(2):53-154. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84107?ln=en&v=pdf
  7. (*)Barnett, H. G. (1937). Culture Element Distributions: VII, Oregon Coast, by HG BarnettAnthropological Records 1(3):155-204. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/anthpubs/ucb/text/ucar001-004.pdf
  8. Driver, H. E. (1938). Culture Element Distributions: VIII-The Reliability of Culture Element DataAnthropological Records 1(4):205-219 Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84109?ln=en&v=pdf
  9. Barnett, H. G. (1939). Culture Element Distributions: IX, Gulf of Georgia Salish. Anthropological Records, 1(5):221-95. University of California, Berkeley. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84113?ln=en&v=pdf
  10. *Driver, H. E., & Driver, H. E. (1939). Culture element distributions: X. Northwest California. Anthropological Records 1(6):297-433. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84115?ln=en&v=pdf 
  11. Kroeber, A. L. (1939). Culture Element Distributions: XI Tribes Surveyed. Anthropological Records 1(7):435-440. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.  https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84112?ln=en&v=pdf
  12. *Gifford, E. W. (1940). Culture Element Distributions: XII. Apache-Pueblo. Anthropological Records 4(1):1-207. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84148?ln=en&v=pdf
  13. **Steward, J. H. (1941). Culture Element Distributions: XIII: Nevada Shoshone. Anthropological Records 4(2):209-259. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84152?ln=en&v=pdf
  14. **Steward, O. C. (1941). Culture Element Distributions XIV: Northern Paiute. Anthropological Records 4(3):361-446. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84154?ln=en&v=pdf
  15. Kroeber, A. L. (1941). Culture Element Distributions XV: Salt, dogs, tobacco. Anthropological Records 6(1):1-20. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/83547?ln=en&v=pdf
  16. Driver, H. E. (1941). Culture Element Distributions: XVI: Girls’ Puberty Rites in Western North America. Anthropological Records 6(2):21-90 . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/83545?ln=en&v=pdf
  17. *Drucker, P. (1941). Culture Element Distributions: XVII: Yuman-Piman. Anthropological Records 6(3):91-230. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/83549?ln=en&v=pdf
  18. **Stewart, O. C. (1941). Culture Element Distributions: XVIII Ute-Southern Paiute. Anthropological Records 6(4):231-354. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/83548?ln=en&v=pdf
  19. Harrington, J. P. (1942). Culture Element Distribution: XIX Central California Coast. Anthropological Records 7(1):1-46. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/83553?ln=en&v=pdf
  20. **Voegelin, E. W. (1942). Culture Element Distibutions: XX Northeast California. Anthropological Records 7(2):47-251. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84125?ln=en&v=pdf
  21. Essene, F. (1942). Culture Element Distributions: XXI Round ValleyAnthropological Records 8(1):1-97. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84124?ln=en&v=pdf
  22. Ray, V. F. (1942). Culture Element Distributions: XXII Plateau. Anthropological Records 8(2):99-258. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84128?ln=en&v=pdf
  23. (*)Steward, J. H. (1943). Culture Element Distribution: XXIII Northern and Gosiute ShoshoniAnthropological Records 8(3):263-392. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84126?ln=en&v=pdf
  24. Aginsky, B. W. (1943). Culture Element Distributions: XXIV Central Sierra. Anthropological Records 8(4):393-468. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84130?ln=en&v=pdf
  25. Chrétien, C. G. (1945). Culture Element Distributions: XXV Reliability of Statistical Procedures and Results. Anthropological Records 8(5):469-490. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84132?ln=en&v=pdf
  26. †Drucker, P. A. (1950). Culture Element Distributions: XXVI Northwest Coast. Anthropological Records 9(3):157-294. Berkeley, CA: University of California Presshttps://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/84135?ln=en&v=pdf

*Mention of female transvestites

(*)Mention of female transvestites, with some reservations

**Detailed description of female transvestites

† Search for "berdache" or "transvestite" retrieved no results; no mention in Lang (1998). 

The remaining files do not mention female transvestites ("berdaches").

In the Culture Element Distributions series, the term "berdache" or "transvestite" were used to describe Native Americans with the "tendency to behave like the opposite sex" from the Western cultural perspective. Homosexuals, cross-dressers, intersex persons, sterile persons, women who performed men's work, men who performed women's work, and shamans were all grouped together under this artificial category. 

Tribes affirmed to have female transvestites ("berdaches"):

  • Achomawi
  • Atsugewi
  • Cocopa
  • Diné (Western Navajo)
  • Klamath
  • Maricopa
  • Mohave
  • Northern Paiute
  • Northern Pomo (Kacha-bida)
  • Papago
  • Shasta
  • Shoshone
  • Southern Paiute
  • Tonto Apache (Southern)
  • Ute (Pahvant, Southern)
  • Wintu
  • Wiyot
  • Yana (Central)
  • Yuma

Tribes affirmed to have female transvestites ("berdaches"), with some uncertainty:

  • Tolowa

Female transvestites ("berdaches") reported to dress as men and marry women:

  • Cocopa
  • Mohave
  • Southern Paiute (Ash Meadows)
Those of the Maricopa and Shoshone (Spring Valley,  Antelope Valley, Snake Valley) dressed as men, but there is uncertain or contradictory information as to whether they married women. Those of the Achomawi and Northern Paiute (Sawa’waktödö-tuviwarai) are said to dress as men and marry woman, but it is unclear whether they were sterile. 

Those of the Klamath, Atsugewi, and Wintu are said to dress as women and live with women, but it is unclear if these relationships were sexual. Those of the Southern Tonto are simply said to be "lazy men and women who wanted to cohabit with own sex", no additional information.

    Female transvestites ("berdaches") reported to never marry men:

    • Northern Pomo (Kacha-bida)
    • Papago (Kikimai)
    • Shasta (Eastern)
    • Ute (Southern)

    Female transvestites ("berdaches") reported to never marry women:

    • Northern Paiute (Tagö-töka)
    • Shoshone (Hamilton, Ruby Valley)
    • Ute (Pahvant)
    • Wintu (Trinity River or Hayfork)
    • Wintu (McCloud River)

      Those of the Pahvant Ute were explicitly denied to be homosexual. Those of the Tagö-töka might have been sterile. Those of the Wintu (Trinity River or Hayfork, McCloud River) are reported to live with men. 

      Culture Element Distributions I: The Structure of California Indian Culture

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      *Culture Element Distributions II: Yana

      Female transvestites ("434. Women became berdaches") affirmed for Central Yana. No additional details. 


      PAGE 84:

      433. Berdaches(transvestites)N(x),Cx

      434. Women became berdaches N-,Cx


      N = Northern Yana

      C = Central Yana

      x = present

      - = absent

      (x) = doubtful, probably present

      (-) = doubtful, probably absent


      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 

      Female transvestites ("779. Women became berdaches") affirmed for Kacha (Kacha-bida), a Northern Pomo tribe of Russian River drainage. "One at Kacha. Not married; lived with her family. Hunted. Called das, like male berdache." No additional details. 

      Female transvestites ("779. Women became berdaches") denied for Hill Patwin, but this denial was made with some uncertainty.

      PAGE 153

      779. Women became berdaches

      HP: (-)

      Kc: x

      ALL OTHER: -


      x = Stated to occur among the group; that is, present.

      - = Stated not to occur among the group; that is, absent.

      (-) = …absent…but statement was made with more or less reservation or seemed not wholly certain to recorder


      PAGE 196

      779. Kc - One at Kacha. Not married; lived with her family. Hunted. Called das, like male berdache.


      Northern Pomo of Russian River drainage

      Kacha'(Kc),more fully Kacha-bida, "K.-creek." Barrett puts Kacha-bida, also called Dapishu, near head of Redwood Canyon cr. Kacha inft spoke of himself as of Walker v., on adjoining Forsythe cr. On Mill cr., affluent of Forsythe, is Kacha-ke. Possibly all territory of one community; or this dislocated by whites. Kacha had feud over deer-snare poaching with Willits over divide to N. Possessed 4-door ghost-society ceremonial house besides regular assembly house.


      Hill Patwin (HP). -Inft, George Bill, about 50 years of age. Data refer to northern Hill Patwin of Lodoga region on Little Stony cr. (Patwin, 263, nos. 28-30)


      RATING OF INFORMANTS

      Kacha: A (knowledge) A (initiative) A (accuracy)

      Northeast (Hill Patwin?): B (knowledge) D (init.) D (accuracy)


      *Culture Element Distributions: V Southern California

      Female transvestites ("1043. Female berdaches") affirmed for Yuma. No information about Western Diegueno or Desert Diegueno, denied for all other tribes. No additional details. 


      PAGE 27

      1043. Female berdaches

      WDma •

      DDkw •

      Yuma +

      ALL ELSE: -


      + = Element present

      - = Element absent or denied

      • = No information; or informant did not understand question, or I did not understand his answer.


      WDma = Western (i.e.,"Northern") Diegueno
      Dkw = Desert (i.e.,"Southern") Diegueno
      Yuma = Yuma

      RATING INFORMANTS

      WDma. Knowledge slightly below par, and none too intelligent...D

      DDkw. Information on material culture good; on the rest, only fair. Had sort of inferiority complex about his culture, which led him to belittle it...B

      Yuma. Knowledge good; intelligence good...A


      Only male transvestites; no female transvestites.


      PAGE 109:

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      Female berdaches


      Female transvestites ("1382. Female berdaches") affirmed, with some uncertainty, for Tolowa. No additional details. 


      PAGE 185

      1382. Female berdaches

      To: (+)


      To = Tolowa


      + Presence of trait, or statement is true. 

      () Indicates some reservation on the part of the informant; usually it means "sometimes," or "a few."


      Culture Element Distributions: VIII The Reliability of Culture Element Data

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      Culture Element Distrbutions: IX Gulf of Georgia Salish

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      Only one reference to "berdache" or "transvestite".


      Page 278: 

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      “Berdache esteemed as shaman”


      *Culture Element Distributions: X Northwest California

      According to the Mattole informant, female transvestites ("1770. Female berdaches") are affirmed for the Wiyot. The female transvestites of the Wiyot are also affirmed to "1771. Dress like a man and hunt". No additional details, but it is doubtful that they were homosexual because homosexuality is denied among the male berdaches.


      PAGE 347

      1770. Female berdaches 

      Wy (Wiyot) *+

      1771. Dress like man and hunt

      Wy (Wiyot) +


      PAGE 405

      1770. Wiyot: Female berdaches, according to Matt informant.


      Matt, Mattole (Mt)

      Wiyot, Wiyot of Eel R. (Wy)


      PAGE 307-8

      Matt: Ike Duncan. Petrolia; 61; good health. Father from mouth of Mattole River, mother from Bear River. Born and reared at mouth of Mattole. Excellent informant, very cooperative. Excellent English.


      [Wiyot informant also described as “Good informant. Good English.”]


      PAGE 372

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS: 

      BERDACHES Live with a normal man. Homosexual intercourse with normal man.


      Culture Element Distributions: XI Tribes Surveyed

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      *Culture Element Distributions: XII Apache-Pueblo

      Female transvestites ("2500. Females as males") affirmed for Western Navaho, Southern Tonto, Southern Ute, and Kikimai Papago.


      Western Navaho: "female berdaches hunted and warred."

      Southern Tonto: "lazy men and women who wanted to cohabit with own sex."

      Southern Ute: "one female berdache dressed like man, made baskets and pots, never married."

      Kikimai Papago: "female berdache cowboy at Sells in 1935, female berdaches hunted, warred, never married."


      No additional details.


      PAGE 66

      2500. Females as males

      WN +

      ST + 

      SU + 

      KP + 


      PAGE 163

      2498-2500. WN female berdaches hunted and warred. EN shaman in 1935 donned women's clothes,wove. ST lazy men and women who wanted to cohabit with own sex. Ci dressing of boy like girl in dance, not continued. SU male berdaches made bas-kets and pots, did not cohabit with men; one female berdache dressed like man, made baskets and pots, never married. Zu male berdaches dressed like women, women's work, sometimes "married" man; parents might bring up boy as girl if no girl in family. SA male berdaches did women's work. KP male berdaches did women's work, did not cohabit with men; female berdache cowboy at Sells in 1935; female berdaches hunted, warred, never married.


      PAGE 2

      Western Navaho.–Haschinisusu (Small  Man), a blind shaman, ca. 80 yrs. old. Born near little Colorado r., 12 mi. upstream from Leupp, Arizona. Just before his birth his parents moved to this place from ca. 30 mi. N of Oraibi, because of crowded conditions there and the fact that relatives were already living on Little Colorado. Informant 6 or 8 yrs. old when Navaho taken to Ft. Sumner in 1863. He declined to discuss death customs; but informant obtained from 19-year-old interpreter. Interpreters: Maxwell Yozzie, Reid Jensen, Felix Baldwin, Stephen N. Jackson. Informant interviewed near Leupp, Arizona.

      Southern Tonto.–Henry Irving, probably ca. 82 because ca. 20 peace made at Camp Verde (1873). Did not see "stars fall" in 1833, but his father did. Camp a bit N of confluence of Rye and Tonto crs. was his birthplace, but lived mostly at Ligaishak, his parents' home, at foot of Mogolom rim, where his father had farm. Data refer to Ligaishak, in territory of 6th semiband of Southern Tonto. Informant reticent about celestial and religious matters. Interpreter: Fred Casey. Informant interviewed at Payson, Arizona.

      Southern Ute.–Yapague, and his wife, Ita. Both ca. 80; of Wemenuis band; already married when saw first white man. Would not discuss war. Interpreter: Herbert Stacker. Informants interviewed at Towaoc, Colorado. 

      Kikimai Papago.–Jose Santos. Age given 58; looked much older. Lived at San Xavier 32 yrs. Born at Akchin in Kikimai territory; both parents Akchin people. Informant and father of maakam clan, mother of apkikam clan. Informant continually wanted to relate mythical origin of each thing, tobacco, ax, etc. Informant an annualist; possessed carved-stick record for "92" yrs. (from 1935 back); published by Underhill, 1938. Interpreter: Frank J. Rios. Informant interviewed at San Xavier, Arizona. 


      Relatively detailed description of female transvestites.

      Female "berdaches or transvestites" affirmed for Southern Paiute of Ash Meadows, and the Shoshone.

      Those of the Southern Paiute of Ash Meadows are affirmed to wear man's dress and marry women, but uncertain whether they perform man's work.

      None of those of the Shoshone are affirmed to marry women. One of the responses is left blank (the informant was never asked?) for the Shoshone of Ely, whose responses are said to be "incomplete" and "somewhat unreliable" .

      For all tribes, female "berdaches" are denied to have male organs.

      The terms "nuwüdüka" and "tangowaip" (or "tangowaipü") are used. According to Hall (1997), "tangowaip" is a misspelling of "tainna wa'ippe", where "taikwahni wa'ippena'" is used for women. Unknown if "nuwüdüka" is also misspelled. Pruden & Edmo (2016) spell it as "nuwuducka".

      PAGE 252-253
      BERDACHES (2090-2110)
      Berdaches or transvestites were known to most informants, but appear not to have been common. Probably several of the cases described below refer to the same individual in Elko.
      From present data, it is certain that men im-personated women more frequently than the re-verse. Transvestitism, however, was unstandardized, varying with the individual. Some persons manifested slight, others great tendency to behave like the opposite sex. Nothing was done about such persons, in sharp contrast to the ceremonies connected with them among some Yuman tribes on the Colorado River. People regarded them only with mild interest and with no disapproval. Two cases in the northern part of the area were also shamans, but, while this association of sex change and shamanism is very strong on the Northwest Coast and in Siberia, the connection here seems to have been fortuitous. Native thought did not connect the two phenomena...

      The following are instances of predominantly female persons tending to masculine behavior:
      S-Hmlt: A woman hunted but married a man. Called: nuwüdüka (?).
      S-SprV. A woman west of Duckwater dressed like a man. Called: tangowaip.
      S-RubV: There was a woman at Montello who wore men's clothes and did man's work. Called tangowaipü.

      PAGE 312

      BERDACHES OR TRANSVESTITES

      2100. Female

      2101. Wear man's dress

      2102. Does man's work 

      2104. Marriage to woman


      SM (SP-Ash): Female [+] Wear man’s dress [+] Does man’s work [?] Marriage to woman [+]

      Sh (S-Hmlt): Female [+] Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [+] Marriage to woman [-]

      Si (S-Ely): Female [+] Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Marriage to woman [[BLANK]]

      Sj (S-SprV): Female [+] Wear man’s dress [+] Does man’s work [?] Marriage to woman [?]

      Sm (S-RubV): Female [+] Wear man’s dress [+] Does man’s work [+] Marriage to woman [-]


      PAGE 327

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      BERDACHES OR TRANSVESTITES (2097) Male: social restrictions. (2103) Female: has male organs; (2105) lives with woman;(2106) is shaman; (2107) social restrictions.(2108) Regarded disapprovingly; (2109) regarded indifferently.


      PAGE 212

      SP-Ash, Southern Paiute of Ash Meadows, California, members of the Ute-Chemehuevi division of Shoshonean. This group occupied also Pahrump, Nevada. Though included by Kelly6 as part of the Las Vegas band, the people of this locality claimed political and social independence of Las Vegas. Today and probably formerly many Shoshoni are intermixed with the Paiute. Informants: AH and MHo.


      S-Hmlt, Shoshoni of Hamilton in the White Pine Mountains, west of Ely. Information generally applicable to Jake's Valley, White Sage Valley, Butte Valley, and Newark Valley. Informants: HJ and JW, HJ interpreting. Some notes are added on Shoshoni of Diamond Valley to the north, SF in-formant.


      S-Ely, Shoshoni of Ely, Nevada. Information applicable to southern end of Steptoe Valley. Informant: AR.


      S-SprV, Shoshoni of Spring Valley and the neighboring Antelope Valley and Snake Valley. Contacts with Steptoe Valley Shoshoni, with Gosiute of Deep Creek and vicinity, and somewhat with Ute of the Sevier Desert, Utah, and with Southern Paiute to the south. There was no sharp distinction between S-SprV and neighboring Gosiute who are also Shoshoni. (The latter will be described in a future list.)


      S-RubV, Shoshoni of Ruby Valley, a well-watered and densely populated region lying east of the Ruby Mountains and southeast of Elko. In-formant: RVJ.


      PAGE 213-4
      INFORMANTS
      AH, half-Negro, half-Southern Paiute man; born ca. 1875 at Las Vegas; has lived mostly at Pahrump, Ash Meadows, and Las Vegas; now at Ash Meadows; intelligent, cooperative, speaks English well. Most facts for the SP-Ash list, however, were supplied by his wife, MHo.

      MHo, full-blood Southern Paiute woman, born ca. 1875 and raised at Pahrump, subsequently marrying AH and living at Ash Meadows. Speaks little English and alone she would be uncooperative but seems well informed and supplied most of AH's in-formation in the list SP-Ash, which is fairly complete and reliable

      HJ, full-blood Shoshoni man, born ca. 1870 or1875 at Hamilton; information fairly extensive but English poor; is very mercenary, though reasonably reliable

      JW, full-blood Shoshoni woman, born ca. 1850near Hamilton. Largely incompetent as an inform-ant due to embarrassment rather than ill-will, but supplied some information on S-Hmlt through HJ, interpreting

      AR, half-blood (?) Shoshoni woman, born ca. 1870 or 1875 at Ely, Nevada; now lives at Ely. English fair; knowledge limited; some guessing was evident. The list S-Ely is not only incomplete but somewhat unreliable.

      RVJ, full-blood Shoshoni man, born ca. 1840 or 1845 in Ruby Valley; early life spent near Over-land in Ruby Valley and near Medicine Springs in the Cedar Mountains. Extremely well informed, co-operative, and reliable; but English poor and is very feeble. Supplied list S-RubV, his daughter M interpreting on some parts when necessary.

      Relatively detailed description of female transvestites.

      "Female berdache (moroni noho or tüvasa)" affirmed for all tribes (Northern Paiute and Achomawi), but also affirmed to be "Sterile" for all tribes. One possibility is that the "female berdache (moroni noho or tüvasa)" category was restricted to sterile individuals. Another possibility is that the terms "moroni noho" and/or "tüvasa" were used to describe sterile individuals and female "berdaches". This latter scenario would be similar to the traditional Diné gender system, where the same word is used to describe individuals with ambiguous genitalia and individuals who are masculine-females or feminine-males.

      When it comes to males, it is confirmed that "tüvasa" referred to sterile individuals or homosexuals ("the sexually abnormal usually considered transvestites". It is more ambiguous whether this is also true of females, as the informant for the Küpa-dökadö group states that "Women tüvasa "never menstruate or have babies". Whether this applies to all other groups, such as the Sawa’waktödö-tuviwarai, is unclear. "Moroni" means "woman", but it is unspecified what "moroni noho" means.

      In most cases (including the Küpa-dökadö), it is plausible that the Northern Paiute "female berdache" simply referred to sterile women, as they are denied to wear man's dress, marry women, or do man's work. In a couple of these cases, they are said to live with women, but it is unclear whether these relationships were sexual in nature. In two other cases, the "female berdache" is affirmed wear man's clothes, do man's work, and have "male organs" (guevedoces?). 

      There are only two cases where the "female berdache" is affirmed to marry women, wear man's dress, do man's work, but not have male organs: the Achomawi and one Northern Paiute group (Sawa’waktödö-tuviwarai). Another Northern Paiute group (Tagö-töka) is affirmed to wear man's dress, do man's work, and not have male organs, but denied to marry women or live with women.

      PAGE 405

      BERDACHES OR TRANSVESTITES

      [ITEMS 2090-2099 describe "Male berdache (tüvasa)"]

      2100. Female berdache (moroni noho or tüvasa)

      2100a. Sterile

      2101. Wear man’s dress

      2102. Does man’s work

      2103. Has male organs

      2104. Marriage to woman

      2105. Lives with woman

      2106. Is shaman

      2109. Regarded indifferently


      ALL TRIBES: Female berdache (moroni noho or tüvasa) [+YES] Sterile [+YES] Regarded indifferently [+ALL]


      Ts: Wear man’s dress [+YES] Does man’s work [+YES] Has male organs [+YES] Marriage to woman [-] Lives with woman [+YES] Is shaman [-]

      K1: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [+YES] Is shaman [-]

      K2: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [+YES] Is shaman [-]

      Kü: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      To: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Tö: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Pa: Wear man’s dress [+YES] Does man’s work [+YES] Has male organs [+YES] Marriage to woman [-] Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Wa: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      At: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Sa: Wear man’s dress [+YES] Does man’s work [+YES] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [+YES] Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [+YES]

      Tg: Wear man’s dress [+YES] Does man’s work [+YES] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-] Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Wd: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      Ki: Wear man’s dress [-] Does man’s work [-] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [-]
      Lives with woman [-] Is shaman [-]

      AE: Wear man’s dress [+YES] Does man’s work [+YES] Has male organs [-] Marriage to woman [+YES] Lives with woman [+YES] Is shaman [-]


      PAGE 440

      BERDACHES OR TRANSVESTITES

      2090. Tüvasa designated any sterile personas well as the sexually abnormal usually considered transvestites. Kl: "Charlie Lowry is tüvasa. He can't make babies. His wife has four children and Charlie supports them because he loves babies, but someone else made them'(DG). To: No tüvasa 'because our Indians were good and taught their children right" (MN). M Nonce saw a Kuyui man at Virginia City who wore dresses, did washing, and so on. Ki: JB knew of a Paiute man who wore dresses, did bead work, and so on, but he did not live in Fort Bidwell.


      2091. K2: See note 2090.


      2091, 2092. Paviotso: + (Curtis, 80).


      2100. GN: Women tüvasa 'never menstruate or have babies" (Kü).


      2110. Kl: To test a boy to see if he is really tüvasa, place him on a piece of paper or on some dry grass. On one side put a bow and some arrows, on the other put buckskin, awl, basketry (cloth, scissors, and thread), then set on fire paper or grass. Frightened child will pick up objects from one side as he saves him-self. If he takes the bow and arrows, he is normal; if he takes the objects associated with women, he is tüvasa and will be funny and never make babies. The young man at Nixon who is said to be a berdache was submitted to the test and took the women's things. He isn't married(DG).


      Ts, Tasiget-tuviwarai

      K1, K2 Kuyui-dökadö

      Kü, Küpa-dökadö

      To, Toe-dökadö

      Tö, Tövusi-dökadö

      Pa, Pakwi-dökadö

      Wa, Washo (non-Paiute)

      At, Atsa’kudökwa-tuviwarai

      Sa, Sawa’waktödö-tuviwarai

      Tg, Tagö-töka

      Wd, Wada-dökadö

      Ki, Kidü-dökadö

      AE, Achomawi (non-Paiute)


      PAGE 363
      Informants. -Gilbert Natchez (GN), age ca. 54,born at Brown's Station, 20 miles SW of Lovelock, Nevada. Both his parents were Küpa. GN lived about 36 years at Nixon, but learned of "old Indian ways from his mother and grandmother. He lived at Lovelock in 1936. He fell off a train when a young man, which left him badly crippled. His sight and hearing were good. He was forced to remain much of the time at home, which, he said, was spent in talking old Paiute lore. I was impressed by his breadth of knowledge and by his ability to express himself. His lack of personal experience with aboriginal culture limited his knowledge; notwithstanding, he surpassed anyone else I found at Lovelock. He was taken to San Francisco and used as a linguistic informant by A. L. Kroeber. He proved very apt and was kept three months. He learned to write his language in phonetic script and he has a paper published under his name.10 He also supplied the culture data recorded by Loud.11 I worked with GN four days

      10. Northern Paiute Verbs. UC-PAAE 20:254-259, 1923.
      11. Lovelock Cave. UC-PAAE 25:1-183, 1929.

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 

      "Female berdaches" affirmed for the Mohave, Cocopa, Maricopa, and Papago. "Female berdache marries woman" affirmed for Mohave and Cocopa, left blank for Papago, and denied for Maricopa. However, it is also noted that Spier (1933) affirmed "Female berdache marries woman" for the Maricopa. 


      PAGE 163

      3184. Female berdaches:

      Mo (Mohave) +

      Co (Cocopa) +

      Ma (Maricopa) +

      Pa (Papago) +

      Yq (Yaqui) [BLANK, informant not asked?]

      ALL OTHER TRIBES -


      3185. Female berdache marries woman:

      Mo (Mohave) + 

      Co (Cocopa) + 

      Ma (Maricopa) *-

      Pa (Papago) [BLANK, informant not asked?]

      Yq (Yaqui) [BLANK, informant not asked?]

      ALL OTHER TRIBES -


      + Element reported present.

      - Element denied.

      * See section "Ethnographic Notes on the Element List." [Asterisk indicates there is a note for this element]


      PAGE 91
      GROUPS INVESTIGATED
      Diegueno (La Huerta) 
      Akwa'ala 
      Mohave
      Cocopa (River
      Maricopa
      Pima
      Papago
      Yaqui
      Yavapai (Northeastern)
      Walapai
      Shivwits Paiute

      PAGE 218 [Items 3172-3183 refer to male "berdaches"]

      3173. Pap: Transformation as the result of a dream may have been true only of those who became berdaches after maturity (such a one is said to be living in Sonora at present).

      3183. Pap: This must have been most rare. Berdaches seem to have been scorned by Pima and Papago, and, among the latter, a man who con- sorted with them was singled out for ridicule(see element 3191).

      3185. Mar: Reported present by Spier (1933,243).3


      Relatively detailed description of female transvestites.

      "Female berdache" is only affirmed for the Pahvant Ute, where it is also affirmed that they wear man's dress, do man's work, and are regarded indifferently. They were not homosexual, as all tribes denied that they married women or lived with women. All tribes also denied that they had male organs.

      "Male or female homosexuality, except with berdaches" is denied by all tribes. While this suggests that male "berdaches" engaged in homosexual behavior, it is unclear whether the female "berdaches" did the same.

      The Pahvant Ute term for "berdache" is recorded as "towasawuts". The term "tuwusawö" is said to mean "sterility". It is therefore possible that the "female berdache" of the Pahvant Ute was simply a sterile woman.

      PAGE 298

      3163. Female berdache

      3164. Wear man’s dress

      3165. Does man’s work

      3166. Regarded indifferently


      UP Female berdache [+] Wear man's dress [+] Does man's work [+] Regarded indifferently [+]

      ALL ELSE Female berdache [-] Wear man's dress [-] Does man's work [-] Regarded indifferently [-]


      PAGE 332

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      BERDACHES …Female: has male organs; married to woman; lives with woman; is shaman; socially restricted; regarded disapprovingly. Fire test to determine berdache; burning-brush (N Paiute)test; burning-hut test; test for all children…


      PAGE 334

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      EROTIC PRACTICES …Male or female homosexuality, except with berdaches…


      PAGE 352

      [TERMINOLOGY USED FOR BERDACHE (SEX NOT SPECIFIED)]

      tangowaipö: GD

      tuwusawuts (and variants): UM, UU, UP, UT, UC, U2, SA, SJ

      [UP term is towasawuts; sex not specified]

      [NO TERM]: U1, UW

      maipots (tuwusawö = sterility): SS

      onobakö (tuwusawö = sterility): SK

      [NO TERM is provided for the Navaho]


      Goshute, Deep Creek (GD) 

      Ute, Moaunts (UM) 

      Ute, Tömpanöwöts (UU)

      Ute, Pahvant (UP) 

      Ute, Taviwatsiu (UT)

      Ute, Möwataviwatsiu (UC)

      Ute, Möwatci (U1) 

      Ute, Möwatci (U2)

      Ute, Wimönuntci (UW)

      Southern Paiute, Antarianunts (SA)

      Southern Paiute, Shivwits (SS)

      Southern Paiute, Kaibab (SK)

      Southern Paiute. San Juan (SJ)

      Navaho, Northwestern (NN)  


      Culture Element Distribution: XIX Central California Coast

      "Female berdaches" marked "probably absent" or blank (informant not asked?) for all tribes.


      PAGE 32

      1233. Female berdaches

      In B1 V1 V3 K1 G3: (-)

      ALL ELSE: [BLANK, informant not asked?]


      (+)(-) Probably present or absent, or said to be; doubt on part of ethnographer


      In: Inezeño Chumash

      B1, B2: Barbareño Chumash

      V1, V2, V3, V4: Ventureño Chumash

      K1, K2: Kitanemuk Serrano

      G1, G2, G3: Gabrielino


      Relatively detailed description of female transvestites.

      "Female transvestites" affirmed for the Klamath (Klamath Marsh), Shasta (Eastern), Atsugewi (Hat Creek), Achomawi (Western, Eastern), and Wintu (Trinity River or Hayfork, McCloud River, Sacramento River).

      Informant for the Nisenan (Southern) was uncertain about the presence of "Female transvestites". "Female transvestites" denied for the remaining tribes surveyed: Maidu (Mountain (NE), Indian Valley, Foothill (NW), Dogwood, Cherokee, Yankee Hill, Valley (NW), vicinity of Chico), and Nisenan (Foothill, Stanfield Hill or Yuba River, Mountain, northerly).

      Unlike the other reports, informants were asked whether the "female transvestites" wore "women's clothes" instead of "men's clothes". Assuming this was not an error, five tribes affirmed that "female transvestites" wore women's clothes, lived with women, and did men's work: Klamath (Klamath Marsh), Atsugewi (Hat Creek), Achomawi (Western), Achomawi (Eastern), Wintu (Sacramento River). Some were said to be shamans, but only for the Klamath (Klamath Marsh) and Achomawi (Eastern).

      It is not entirely clear whether "lived with (wo)men" denotes a sexual relationship. In Culture Element Distributions: XIV Northern Paiute, "female berdache" of the Achomawi are said to marry women, supporting the claim that they "lived with women". Spier (1930) also describes a Klamath woman named Co'pak who "lived like a man" "retained women's dress" and "married a woman".

      On the other hand, the description for the Achomawi is contradicted by Culture Element Distributions: XIV Northern Paiute, where it is said that "female berdache" wear men's clothes. It might be pertinent that the informant for the Atsugewi provided information about the Achomawi (Western), stating that "1 Pit River (Achomawi) woman, after she'd had children, dreamt to be like that." The Atsugewi referred to "female transvestites" as "brumaiwi". Although they are described as wearing women's clothes, they are also said to "Wear false penis (?), made of pitch, suspended from belt."

      Curiously, the "female transvestites" of the Wintu (Trinity River or Hayfork) and Wintu (McCloud River) are said not to wear women's clothes, but to live with men and perform men and women's work. This does not follow the typical pattern of Native American tribes, where one would expect those who live with men to wear women's clothes. Once more, this raises the question of whether "wear woman's clothes" is an error, and if it is meant to read "wear man's clothes". However, Spier's (1930) confirms that the female transvestites of the Klamath ("tw!inna'ek") did not wear men's clothes.

      "Female transvestites" of the Shasta (Eastern) are said not to live with men or women. They are also said to wear women's clothes, do men (and women's) work, and that some are shamans.

      Lang (1998) makes a small error in assuming that the female transvestites of these tribes were said to be "born that way". A note reading "Because born that way." is left on Element 4008., but Element 4008. describes male transvestites—not female transvestites. Another note suggests that the female transvestites were not necessarily "born that way", as it reads "1 Pit River (Achomawi) woman, after she'd had children, dreamt to be like that."

      PAGE 134-5

      Kl Mo SE SW | At AW AE | WT WM WS | MM MF | NF NM NS MV


      *4011. Female transvestites affirmed for group

      + Kl SE | AW AE | WT WM WS 

      *+ At 

      • NS


      4012. Live with woman

      4012a. Live with man

      2012b. Wear woman’s clothes

      2013. Some are shamans

      2014. Perform man’s work only

      2015. Perform labors both sexes

      2016. Dig graves or helps at funerals

      2017. Regarded disapprovingly

      2018. Regarded indifferently


      Kl: Live with woman [+YES] Live with man [[BLANK]] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [+YES] Perform man’s work only [+YES] Perform labors of both sexes [-] Dig grave or helps at funerals [(+)] Regarded disapprovingly [[BLANK]] Regarded indifferently [[BLANK]] 

      Mo: [-]

      SE: Live with woman [-] Live with man [-] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [+YES] Perform man’s work only [-] Perform labors of both sexes [+YES] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [-] Regarded indifferently [-]

      SW: [-]


      At: Live with woman [+YES] Live with man [[BLANK]] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [-] Perform man’s work only [-] Perform labors of both sexes [+YES] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [+YES] Regarded indifferently [-]

      AW: Live with woman [+YES] Live with man [[BLANK]] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [-] Perform man’s work only [+YES] Perform labors of both sexes [-] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [+YES] Regarded indifferently [+YES]

      AE: Live with woman [+YES] Live with man [[BLANK]] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [+YES] Perform man’s work only [+YES] Perform labors of both sexes [•] Dig grave or helps at funerals [+YES] Regarded disapprovingly [-] Regarded indifferently [+YES]


      WT: Live with woman [-] Live with man [+YES] Wear woman’s clothes [-] Some are shamans [-] Perform man’s work only [-] Perform labors of both sexes [+YES] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [-] Regarded indifferently [+YES] 

      WM: Live with woman [-] Live with man [+YES] Wear woman’s clothes [-] Some are shamans [-] Perform man’s work only [-] Perform labors of both sexes [+YES] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [-] Regarded indifferently [+YES] 

      WS: Live with woman [+YES] Live with man [-] Wear woman’s clothes [+YES] Some are shamans [-] Perform man’s work only [+YES] Perform labors of both sexes [-] Dig grave or helps at funerals [-] Regarded disapprovingly [-] Regarded indifferently [-] 


      MM: [-] 

      MF:  [-] 


      NF:  [-] 

      NM:  [-] 

      NS:  [•] (marked this way for all, male and female transvestites)

      MV: [-]  


      Kl Klamath, of Klamath Marsh

      Mo Modoc, of Tule Lake

      SE Shasta, Eastern, of Shasta Valley

      SW Shasta, Western, of Klamath and Rogue rivers

      At Atsugewi (Hat Creek)

      AW Achomawi, Western (Achomawi proper)

      AE Achomawi, Eastern (Hammawi)

      WT Wintu, Trinity River or Hayfork

      WM Wintu, McCloud River

      WS Wintu, Sacramento River (upper)

      MM Maidu, Mountain (NE), Indian Valley

      MF Maidu, Foothill (NW), Dogwood, Cherokee, Yankee Hill

      NF Nisenan, Foothill, Stanfield Hill or Yuba River

      NM Nisenan, Mountain, northerly

      NS Nisenan, Southern (of mountains)

      MV Maidu, Valley (NW), vicinity of Chico


      + Element affirmed by informant.

      - Element denied by informant.

      (+) Element affirmed, but some doubt concern-ing it on part of informant or ethnographer.

      (-) Element denied, but with qualifications as in the preceding.

      • Element enquired about, but informant un-certain regarding it.

      * Further information concerning item is contained in the section "Ethnographic Notes on the Element List.”

          Blank Element not enquired for by ethnographer.


      PAGE 228

      3999. Mo, MM, MV: Known by informants to exist among such tribes as "Pit River" (Achomawi) and Kl, but denied positively for informants' own groups. SW: Informant himself had many traits of transvestite, although he dressed in men's clothes; most of elements listed positively below for SW are entered from volunteered data and observation of facts rather than as result of direct questioning. At: Referred to as ya'wa'. NM: "In early days didn't have any [transvestites]"; informant knew of only 2 hermaphrodites (?), a Mexican at Auburn and a half-breed woman.

      4008. "Because born that way."'

      4009. AW: Informant for At stated, "1 Pit River (Achomawi) woman, after she'd had children, dreamt to be like that."

      *4011. See note 3999. At: Referred to as brumaiwi. Wear false penis (?), made of pitch, suspended from belt. 


      Only male "berdaches" mentioned.


      PAGE 52

      ELEMENTS DENIED BY ALL INFORMANTS

      BERDACHES Not allowed in sweat house; homosexuality among women.


      PAGE 65

      BERDACHES

      1279. Kl: Called das…


      Kl Kalekau (N Pomo)


      Search for "berdache" or "transvestite" retrieved no results; no mention in Lang (1998). 

      Female "berdaches" are only given a passing mention.

      PAGE 279

      Berdachism was but slightly developed, followed no marked conventions, and was linked with no social pursuits. No cases of female transvestites were recalled. (See note 2173.)


      PAGE 385

      BERDACHES OR TRANSVESTITES

      2173. S-Lemhi: Berdaches or transvestites of both sexes were called tübasa (sterile) or ten-anduakia (tenδp, man; ?); female berdaches, waip:ü(woman) sungwe (half). JPe thought each band had had no more than one wapi:üsungwe. One he recalled had a feminine face and breasts but was thought to be a man and dressed and behaved like a man.


      Ss S-Lemhi Shoshoni, Lemhi: bands Tuka-düka and Agai-düka.


      PAGE 263

      (1) S-Lemhi. Shoshoni inhabited the mountains of central Idaho south of the Salmon River, liv-ing in several small, independent villages. These people were without horses and were probably very similar to the Western Shoshoni. They were called Tuka (mountain sheep) düka (eaters). In the same region, however, were Shoshoni on the Lemhi River. They possessed horses and were like the Northern Shoshoni. They were called Agai (salmon) düka(not to be confused with the Western Shoshoni Agai düka on the Snake River in western Idaho).


      The informant, JPe, James Pegoga, a man of about eighty-five years, was born in a Tuka di Aka village west of the Lemhi River, but later lived on the Lemhi River, the mountain people gradually having amalgamated with the Lemhi band and acquired horses. The list, therefore, is a composite of practices of both peoples. These people are now at Fort Hall.


      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      Culture Element Distributions: XXV Reliability of Statistical Procedures and Results

      No mention of female transvestites ("berdaches"). 


      Culture Element Distributions: XXVI Northwest Coast

      Search for "berdache" or "transvestite" retrieved no results; no mention in Lang (1998). 

      References

      Hall, C. M. (1997). You anthropologists make sure you get your words right. Two-spirit people: Native American gender identity, sexuality, and spirituality, 272-275.

      Lang, S. (1998). Men as women, women as men: Changing gender in Native American cultures. University of Texas Press.

      Pruden, H., & Edmo, S. (2016, October). Two-spirit people: Sex, gender & sexuality in historic and contemporary Native America. In National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center. https://archive.ncai.org/policy-research-center/initiatives/Pruden-Edmo_TwoSpiritPeople.pdf 

      Spier, L. (1930). “Klamath Ethnography.” In Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 30. 1930, Berkeley, Calif. University of California Press. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058372939&seq=69&q1=nnaek

      Spier, L. (1933). Yuman tribes of the Gila River. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.



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