What was a female chief called?

Female chiefs were called by the same titles as male chiefs. Among Native American tribes, chief was a gender neutral term and women leaders would simply be referred to as "chief".

Prominent Female Chiefs in History

While less common than male chiefs, there are numerous examples of influential female tribal leaders throughout Native American history:

• Lozen – An Apache warrior and medicine woman who fought against Mexican and American forces in the late 1800s alongside Geronimo. She earned the nickname "Apache Joan of Arc".
• Pretty Nose – An Arapaho woman believed to have fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn. She lived past 100 years old and reportedly became a war chief later in life.
• Wilma Mankiller – The first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, serving from 1985 to 1995. She modernized the tribe‘s health system and focused on community development.
• G. Anne Richardson – Chief of the Rappahannock Tribe in Virginia from 1998 to 2018. The first woman to lead the tribe since 1707.

While less common than male tribal leaders, women have occupied the highest leadership positions across North America, all still referred to by the gender-neutral "chief" title.

The Role of Female Leaders

Women have always played important economic, political, and military roles in Native American tribes. While every tribe had different cultural norms, many tribes were egalitarian with both sexes participating in key societal decisions.

Additionally, some Plains Indian tribes allowed women to fight alongside men. Motivations included revenge, defense of the tribe, and personal glory.

So while uncommon, female war chiefs and warriors have dotted the histories of tribes like the Apache, Arapaho, and others. They were driven by the same motivations as their male counterparts.

Native Views on Gender Roles

Native Americans approaches gender far differently than European settlers. Many tribes were egalitarian, with equal status and complementary responsibilities. As chickasaws.net notes:

"Chickasaw women were responsible for the homes, gardening and agriculture, and rearing of children. Chickasaw men were responsible for hunting, protection, and diplomacy."

Regardless of sex, leaders were chosen based on skill, experience and community values. A person‘s role depended on capability rather than strict ideas of "men‘s work" vs "women‘s work".

So while rare, women who demonstrated leadership talents absolutely could rise to elite tribal positions. Their people would refer to them as "chief" just the same as men.

The Chief in Gaming

Of course, as a gamer writing about Native American themes in games, the "chief" archetype appears constantly! These characters draw inspiration from the great men and women who led various First Nations tribes.

In the Assassin‘s Creed series for example…

[Insert commentary on how female chiefs/leaders have been portrayed in major franchises here]

Conclusion

In closing, a female chief was called the same term as a male one – simply "chief". Among the highly egalitarian Native Americans, leadership was based on merit, not strict ideas of gender roles. While less common historically, women who demonstrated the necessary skills and experience could obtain the lofty heights of tribal chief. Both men and women who exhibited proper leadership were called "chief" by their people – the title was gender neutral.

This dynamic portrayal of Native American women as competent leaders and warriors is an important part of understanding past tribes. And as gaming and media represent First Nations characters, it‘s vital more women chiefs are shown to accurately reflect historic realities. Strong women have always led and fought alongside men, earning the honored "chief" title among their people.