Lozen was born about 1840. She was the sister of Apache war leader Victorio and is considered the most famous of the Apache war women. Lozen was born in the northern New Mexico /Arizona area and was never interested in learning the women's duties of the tribe. She preferred to ride with her brother and participate in the rough games of the boys. Lozen took part in the warrior training and never married. Lozen dressed lived and fought like a man. She devoted her life to the service of her people.
Lozen's brother said, “Lozen is my right hand, strong as a man, braver than most and cunning in strategy, Lozen is a shield to her people.”
Considered a shaman or prophet, legend has it that Lozen used her supernatural powers in battle and learned the movements of the enemy and that she helped each band she was with to avoid capture. She was also able to use song and herbs to help heal people.
When Lozen's brother Victorio died, Lozen continued to ride with Chief Nana and eventually she joined up with Geronimo's band. She eluded capture until she finally surrendered with this last group of free Apaches in 1886. Lozen died of tuberculosis at the Mount Vernon Barracks in Mobile, Alabama at about the age of 50.
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Good story Nancy. The southeast part of Arizona is strife with legends of apache warrios, including Lozen. The "war like personality and savagery" according to government agents of the day, is the reason why the Chiricahua apaches were never given their own reservation. They still don't have one and pretty much live scattered amongst the existing Apache reservations in Arizona and New Mexico.
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