Two-Spirited 

Our interest in this topic stemmed from the guest speaker, Tim Mentz Sr., while he briefly discussed different perspectives on gender and sexuality on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North and South Dakota. We got to hear about being two-spirited in Indigenous culture and the reason why it is important now. We both (Jay and Saswot) identify ourselves as non-binary, and through our reflection and coming-outs, we have seen the significance of living outside the gender binary. At the same time, it is challenging, and getting challenged, by the existing power structures. Through our research, we were able to delve deeper into what two-spirited means, why it is that coining such a term is important, and simultaneously attempting to grasp the nuances that go beyond the notion of a gender binary system. 

We delved into the historical context of how the gender binary system became a norm as this idea travelled along with white settlers in different parts of Turtle Island. Simultaneously, this leads to the erasure or suppression of other forms of gender and sexual expression that are not male or female. However, on the brighter side, several grassroots and individual efforts are being carried out in different parts of Turtle Island to revitalise their traditional ways of understanding gender-sexual relations. 

We used poetry as a medium to help us understand the meanings of Two-Spirit. For this, we used Coyote Park’s book called Heart of a Shapeshifter, 2 Spirit Love Medicine. Coyote expresses through poetry their experience of being Two-Spirit and discusses gender and sexuality. Another reason for applying poetry is to also challenge traditional ways of learning and teaching. Poetry, in our personal opinion, aids in providing readers a first-hand perspective and an emotional connection to the situation and the context. We are also attaching a piece of poetry that is close to our hearts. 

FANTASY INTO FLESH

Pigments of orange to block out shadow.

Black ink drawn to construct new shapes to look out of.

The dull, blunt edge drawn against my skin; catching hairs dense with regrowth.

Combing through new lengths of brunettes. 

There are tools to master shapeshifting:

Hormones are a tool. 

Surgeries are a tool. 

Voice is a tool.

Hair is a tool.

Clothing is a tool. 

Makeup is a tool. 

Piercings are a tool.

Tattoos are a tool. 

My vessel is a tool.

 I am the mechanic. 

I am the weaver.

I am the carpenter.

 I am the architect. 

I will draft,
I will build,
I will deconstruct, I will rebuild,
I will polish.

I am going to construct a body that I made by myself. 

Coyote Park: Heart of a Shapeshifter: 2Spirit Love Medicine

Link to website: https://coyotepark.format.com/

Additionally, we are attaching here some photographs of two-spirited love and people 

                       

Pictures

1.  Buffalo Barbie
2. We’Wha 
3. Osh Tisch and their spouse 
4. Adrian Matthias Stevens and Sean Snyder 
5. Ben Geboe

 Adrian Matthias Stevens and Sean Snyder 

References

Rutter, S., & Youngquist, C. (2021, april 23). 10 Queer Indigenous Artists on Where Their Inspirations Have Led Them. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/t-magazine/queer-indigenous-artists.html

How two-spirit people are « coming in » to their communities | CBC Radio. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/how-two-spirit-people-are-coming-in-to-their-communities-1.6272654

Two-Spirit | The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/two-spirit

In Indigenous communities, some Two-Spirit people are reclaiming their roles | WVTF. https://www.wvtf.org/news/2022-12-22/in-indigenous-communities-some-two-spirit-people-are-reclaiming-their-roles

Big Eagle, L. (2023, September 21). Beyond two-spirit: Indigenous people look to revive traditional LGBTQ terms. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/indigenous-lgbtq-words-1.6953445

CBC Radio. (2021, December 3). How two-spirit people are “coming in” to their communities. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/how-two-spirit-people-are-coming-in-to-their-communities-1.6272654

Fournier, E. (2023, October 10). Two-Spirit Inuit share their stories of growing up queer in the North. National News . https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/two-spirit-inuit-share-their-stories-of-growing-up-queer-in-the-north/

Robinson, M. (2022). Recent insights into the mental health needs of two-spirit people. Current Opinion in Psychology, 48, 101494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101494

Tran, P. (2022, June 8). Being Two-Spirit and trans in Canada: How colonization shaped the way we view gender diversity | Globalnews.ca. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/8903907/two-spirit-indigenous-colonization-lgbtq-inside-pride/

Wagner, J. (2023, June 27). Montana Two Spirit Society moves forward with pride. ICT News. https://ictnews.org/news/montana-two-spirit-society-moves-forward-with-pride