Day 1: Two-Spirit Traditions – Ancient Wisdom, Living Presence.
Across Turtle Island (North America), many Indigenous nations have long recognized Two-Spirit people as sacred. Two-Spirit identities are not a modern invention, but a continuation of ancestral understandings of gender and spirit. Traditionally, Two-Spirit people served as healers, mediators, ceremonial leaders, and keepers of balance. Their existence reflects a worldview where queerness and spirituality are not separate, but deeply interwoven.
Colonization sought to erase these traditions. Christian missionaries and U.S./Canadian policies violently suppressed Indigenous languages, ceremonies, and teachings, attempting to impose rigid binaries of male/female and erase gender diversity. Yet despite this, Two-Spirit people have persisted. Their survival itself is an act of resistance.
Today, Two-Spirit leaders are reclaiming language, reviving ceremony, and building community. Organizations such as the International Council of Two Spirit Societies host gatherings that bring together Indigenous LGBTQ+ people to share culture, organize for justice, and celebrate identity.
“The term Two-Spirit isn’t just about gender or sexuality, it’s about our role, our responsibilities, and our sacredness as Indigenous people.” – Harlan Pruden (Cree Nation), Two-Spirit advocate
These stories remind us that queerness has always existed in Indigenous communities, not as something “new” or “imported,” but as ancient wisdom that continues to guide us toward wholeness.
Learn More
- Two Spirit Journal – original content of news and current events to educate, build connectivity and to put a face and voice to the diverse & vibrant Two-Spirit community in the United States and Canada.
- International Council of Two Spirit Societies – Two Spirit social, health, and cultural programs and resources.
- Book: Two-Spirits: a story of life with a Navajo by Walter L. Williams
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