De Smet's "A woman dreamt she was a man", 1841

The Jesuit Father de Smet's "Personal Observations Made during Many Thousand Miles of Travel" among the "Wild Tribes of the North American Indians," in 1841, discusses the Natives' beliefs in regard to dreams.

Among the Crows I saw a warrior who, in consequence of a dream, had put on women's clothing and subjected himself to all the labors and duties of that condition, so humiliating to an Indian. On the other hand there is a woman among the Snakes who once dreamed that she was a man and killed animals in the chase.

Upon waking, she assumed her husband's garments, took his gun and went out to test the virtue of her dream; she killed a deer. Since that time she has not left off man's costume; she goes on the hunts and on the war-path; by some fearless actions she has ohtained the title of "brave" and the privilege of admittance to the council of the chiefs. Nothing less than another dream could make her return to her gown.