Lozen

Born in what is now Arizona/New Mexico in the 1840’s Lozen was a ‘shield for her people’.

Not interested in the traditional roles of Apache women, she became a warrior, a strategist and a medicine woman. As a skilled and celebrated fighter she attended warrior ceremonies, council meetings and fought against the U.S. Calvary. When her people were driven off their land and sent to the San Carlos Reservation and her Chief killed, she continued to resist colonisation joining the Apache leader and her friend and ally, Geronimo. Lozen was arrested in 1885 fighting for the freedom of her people in the last Apache resistance attempt.

Also see this article at New Mexico History.