This is my personal story, my perspective and some teachings I have received through the years:

 

Most people are aware that the label "Two Spirit" was created by a group of Indigenous LGTBQ folks in the 80's at a gathering in Canada when they knew they needed a term that described them separately from lesbian or gay. There is something much deeper with two spirit people and to be able to identify as LGTBQ and Indigenous at the same time is important. Even if it's just to be able to connect to other two spirit people. There are newer English terms surfacing such as indigequeer.

 

Personally, I identify more as Bear Clan and I rarely share that I am a 2 Spirit person (because I don't need to). I would rather people get to know me as a spiritual being and and fellow human for my gifts and skills rather then put a focus on gender and sexual orientation. I don't feel the need to 'come out' to people because I never attempt to hide my genuine identity. I am masculine in many ways and often fulfill the traditional roles typical for men to do when I am working in the bush or helping with ceremonies. 

 

I identify as female with gender pronouns (she/her/they/them/their). I am working at changing my consciousness to use more gender neutral pronouns for a few reasons. First, there was no gender pronoun in the Ojibwe language. The idea of she/he is build right into verbs. Second, I want to support all of the brave people who do not ascribe to one gender, in a society that brainwashes people into normative violence. I think it is respectful to use 'they/them/their' because it is not imposing - and Anishinaabe meaning of respect means non-imposition or non-interference.

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Descriptive Indigenous languages typically referred to people according to their gifts and their inheritances. It was likely that many Indigenous people who did not fit into the assumed gender roles or appearance coincidentally shared similar inherent gifts. I was taught, and understand that two spirit people, being unique (like any unique trait), were connected to Spirit Beings that others were not connected to or could not access. Communities with two spirit people were considered lucky or 'more wealthy' because they had access to different Spirit Helpers. 

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The more common teachings are around two spirit people being mediators between men and women. My understanding is that there was a special place for them historically, in the middle of the circle with men on one side and women on the other. Two spirit people were versatile and often called upon to carry out responsibilities that typically went to the opposite sex. For example, if there was not a man to be a fire keeper, a two spirit women might be experienced in fire keeping and would be able to step in and fulfill that need. Another example might be a man who has special gifts and passions that would typically be allocated to women's responsibilities. It would be incorrect to expect that man to be something other than himself, sharing his gifts. Sex and gender were not as much of a focus then individual and unique skills and gifts, passions and inherent responsibilities.

 

It is important to note that not every masculine woman is a lesbian, and not every feminine man is gay. Two spirit people can be heterosexual, and it was not a concern who a person loved, had sex with, or how they behaved as long as they were kind and honest, sharing their gifts with community. 

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I do not speak on behalf of two spirit people because I can only speak for myself and my unique experience, but sharing what I have been taught and how I understand my place in Indigenous community as a two spirit person is something I have spoke about. I have agreed to do short workshops or talks on being two spirit because I believe it will be helpful to others when society learns more about traditional teachings and normative violence. As a social worker and advocate, I use this as an opportunity to try and make some change in the communities by helping people understand the harmful impacts of Western norms and worldview on our Indigenous identifies and how we are treated. 

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Feel free to email me with questions or comments on being two spirit.

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