THE WORLD OF TWO SPIRIT
NATIVE AMERICANS HONOR, RESPECT AND LOVE OUR TWO SPIRIT RELATIVES
Are you ready to dive deep into the world of Two Spirit? If not, buckle up because we're about to take a wild ride!
First things first, let's talk about what Two Spirit means. It's a term used to describe Indigenous people who embody both feminine and masculine energy. And no, it's not a new concept. It's been around for centuries in Native cultures, but the term itself was coined in 1990 by Elder Myra Laramee at a Native American and First Nation LGBTQ conference in Winnipeg, Canada. So, it's kind of like the OG gender-fluid identity.
Before colonization, Two Spirit people were highly respected members of their tribes. They held important social and spiritual roles such as visionary, artist, healer, matchmaker, counselor, and warrior. Basically, they were the ultimate multitaskers. They were even seen as balance-keepers and keepers of knowledge in their living Indigenous cultures. Talk about goals!
Unfortunately, when European colonizers arrived, they brought with them their homophobic attitudes and binary understanding of gender. This led to the erasure and oppression of Two Spirit people. They were forced to hide their identities and traditions and faced violence and discrimination from both settlers and their own communities. It was a rough time for our Two Spirit relatives.
But don't worry, the story doesn't end there. In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of the Two Spirit identity and movement. More Indigenous people are reclaiming their history and role among their people. They're creating spaces for themselves and advocating for their rights and visibility within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. They're celebrating their diversity and resilience while honoring their ancestors who carried on their traditions in secret.
If you want to learn more about the Two Spirit community and their history and culture, there are plenty of resources out there. You can check out books like "Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal and Sovereignty in Native America" by Gregory Smithers or articles like "Here’s What It Means To Be ‘Two-Spirit,’ According To Native People" by Kelsey Borresen. And if you're feeling really adventurous, you can even attend a Two Spirit powwow or other cultural event.
If you want to learn more about the Two Spirit community and their history and culture, you can check out some of these sources:
- Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal and Sovereignty in Native America by Gregory Smithers
- Here’s What It Means To Be ‘Two-Spirit,’ According To Native People by Kelsey Borresen
- History – 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
- What Is the Two Spirit Community? by Arlin Cuncic
In conclusion, Two Spirit is an important part of Indigenous culture and history. It's a reminder that gender is not binary and that diversity should be celebrated. So let's honor, respect, and love our Two Spirit relatives because they're pretty freaking awesome. And who knows, maybe we all have a little bit of Two Spirit energy within us.
Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Identities: Today and Centuries Ago - Human Rights Campaign https://www.hrc.org/news/two-spirit-and-lgbtq-idenitites-today-and-centuries-ago
What Does Two Spirit Mean? Gender Meaning in Indigenous Community https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a36744168/two-spirit-meaning/
8 Things You Should Know About Two Spirit People - ICT News https://ictnews.org/archive/8-misconceptions-things-know-two-spirit-people
Here's What It Means To Be 'Two-Spirit,' According To Native People. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-two-spirit-means-native_l_62aa0b3ce4b06169ca93c14e.
For centuries, Two-Spirit people had to carry out Native traditions in .... https://www.news.vcu.edu/article/2022/04/for-centuries-two-spirit-people-had-to-carry-out-traditions-in-secret.
History – 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations. https://2spirits.org/history/.
What Is the Two Spirit Community? - Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-two-spirit-community-5089204.
Bing, 6/8/2023
