Glory of the Morning: Roles of women

There is a bit of a controversy about whether GOM could have been a chieftess and this all has to do with men's roles and women's roles.  Women historically have been responsible for not only child-bearing but also child rearing/nurturing and maintaining the home.  Men historically have been responsible for providing for the family and protecting the home (and family).  In  GOM's day men's and women's roles were clearly defined within their culture.  According to present day Ho-Chunk or Winnebago cultural leaders the role of chief was considered a man's role.  There is one written oral history account and several historical writings that consider GOM to be a chieftess or leader of her people.  In the present day leadership of the Ho-Chunk Nation there are and have been women legislators, elected leaders in the Ho-Chunk government which is headed by a president of the tribe who has been historically male. There is a hereditary chief of the Ho-Chunk and his surname is Winneshiek.  The search continues...