The Two-Spirit Tradition

Originally published on June 25, Two Spirit Times

By Harlan Pruden and Melissa Hoskins, Co-Chairs of NE2SS

On the land we know as North America, there were approximately 400 distinct indigenous Nations. Of that number, 155 have documented multiple gender traditions. Two Spirit is a contemporary term that refers to those traditions where some individuals’ spirits are a blending of male and female spirit.

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The existence of Two Spirit people challenges the rigid binary view of the world of the North American colonizers and missionaries, not just of a binary gender system, but a binary system of this or that, all together. The Two Spirits’ mere existence threatened the colonizers' core beliefs; the backlash was violent. Sketches, housed at the New York City public library, depict Two Spirit people being attacked by colonizers’ dogs. Word of this brutal treatment spread quickly from nation to nation. Many nations decided to take actions to protect their honored and valued Two Spirit people. Some nations hid them by asking them to replace their dress, a mixture of men and women's clothing, with the attire of their biological sex. After years of colonization, some of those very same nations denied ever having a tradition that celebrated and honored their Two Spirit people.

The Two Spirit tradition is primarily a question of gender, not sexual orientation. Sexual orientation describes the relationship a person of one gender has with another gendered person. Gender describes an individual's expected role within a community.

Within traditional American Indian communities, there was an expectation that women farmed/gathered food and cooked; men hunted big game. Although there was division of labor along gender lines, there was no gender-role hierarchy. Within the American Indian social construct of gender, a community could not survive without both of the equal halves of a whole. The American Indian commitment to gender equality opened the door for the possibility of multiple genders, without the idea that a man was taking on a lesser gender by placing himself in a women's role.

Gender Roles of Two Spirit People
People of Two Spirit gender functioned as crafts-people, shamans, medicinegivers, mediators, and/or social workers. In many American Indian communities, men and women styles of speech were distinct; sometimes even different dialects were spoken. The Two Spirit people knew how to speak both in the men and women's ways. They were the only ones allowed to go between the men's and the women's camps. They brokered marriages, divorces, settled arguments, and fostered open lines of communication between the sexes.

Their proficiency in mediation often included their work as communicators between the seen (physical) and un-seen (spiritual) worlds. Many of the great visionaries, dreamers, shamans, or medicine givers were Two Spirit people. In some traditions, a war party could not be dispatched until their Two Spirit person consulted the spirits of the un-seen world and then gave their blessings. In the Lakota tradition, before any war party’s departure, the party preformed a dance with the Two Spirit person at the center of the circle to show their respect and honor.

It is traditional to present gifts at gatherings to those who exemplify the "spirit" of the community or who have done the most for the community. Two Spirit people were respected and honored with gifts when they attended gatherings. They did not keep the gifts, but passed them on to spread the wealth. In this respect, Two Spirit people were similar to modern day social workers.

When a family was not properly raising their children, the Two Spirit person would intervene and assume the responsibly as the primary caretaker. Sometimes, families would ask the Two Spirit person for help rearing their children. This unique role of social worker was specific to Two Spirit people, for they had an excess of material wealth as a result of the gifts they received.

Remembering Our Traditions
Since the time of colonization many American Indians have forgotten the "old" way. Many converted to a Western religion, which did not accept traditional spirituality and community structures.

However, there are groups of elders and activists that have quietly kept the Two Spirit tradition alive. In some nations that have revived this tradition, or brought it once again into the light, Two Spirit people are again fulfilling some of the roles and regaining the honor and respect of their communities.

The Two Spirit tradition is a very rich one that deserves a closer examination. The LGBTI activists engaged in achieving equality for all should remember that there was a time when people who engaged in same-sex relationships were accepted and honored for their special qualities.

Two Spirit people are a part of the fabric of this land, and we stand here today as a testament of our collective strength and fortitude.

Comments

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I also meant to tell you that you can comment to your heart's
content in the comment section and it doesn't turn on any lights nor
do you receive any GA notification. You're only aware of it if you
check your question activity regularly. Feel free to chat with us
there as much as you like.

[Julie]

Hello, I am looking for a symbol the represents Two Spirit peoples. Does anyone know of one or where I might go to find one?

[Karonhiio]

Shé:kon,
Im a Kanien'kehá:ka(Mohawk) from upstate NY. I am surprised and glad that there is a site for Onkwehón:we(Native American) people like us. Just to read this information about the Two-Spirited people gives me greater joy to be who I am. Im 20 tears old and only noticed that I had feelings for men about 2-3 years ago. It wasn't easy coming out and realising this since people(mostly my family) all shunned me for being the way I am. Because of that I was in a confusion up until 2 months ago about who I truly am. I alway knew that I wasn't a mess up or wrong for being the way I am but people made it difficult for me. People always make things difficult. But since 2 months ago, i've been happier with myself and more comfortable. But enough about me.
I always wondered what the roles of the Two-Spirited and others were. Im my culture, The Iroquois/Longhouse culture, I don't see anything that has to do with me(us) like the Women and Men have. All I see is Women and Men duties and, again, that makes me wonder is we've just lost that part of our culture or if people just don't want it to be.
I am glad that this site exists. And just wanted to say niá:wen(Thanks) for the information that has opened up my world even more.

Ó:nen ki' wáhi(Bye for now)

[Nehi Katawasisiw]

Tansi,

I often encounter moniyaws (non-ndgns people) who long to take the concept of "two spirit" and make it their own. It is a perverse thing to me having grown up in an extremely racist country populaced by a people who seem not to understand much about respect.

I would say to the non-natives who are longing for a framework that is affirming & empowering of their non-heterosexual, other-gendered identities rather than disempowering as so many European social frameworks are....don't co-opt or appropriate the Two Spirit identity. This term "Two Spirit" was coined with indigenous nations in mind---not lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of European descent in mind. Respect (that is, don't colonize) indigenous history, culture, spiritual beliefs and individuals by thinking that you can simply take on this term as your own. You can respect us by understanding that this term is our way of reclaiming our unique & distinct culture, history and spiritual traditions and is not about filling an emptiness in you.

I would say that you should coin your own term, find your own path that affirms your own unique culture, history and spiritual traditions rather than trying to mine (appropriate) from ours.

Ekosi,
Nehi Katawasisiw
Pipikisis Cree Nation

[Julie]

Greetings, I am hoping that someone can help me find the symbol for Two Spirit people. If you can, will you please email me at [email protected] Thank you

[Julie Sotts]

Greetings, I am hoping you can help. I am looking for a symbol the represents the Two Spirit people. I am hoping you can provide me with or point me in the right direction to find one. I hope you can help.

Thanks, Julie

[talon]

I am a 57yr old two spirit of Comanche decent. I live in a small city in Ohio with my Apache partner of 12yrs. While doing research on the Comanche nation I ran across the two spirit way. It has explained so much about the way Sue and I view our lives. I pray the Great Spirit will continue to speak to the hearts of all the nations, so the two spirit way can return with the pride and dignity that the Great Spirit intended for all the people.

[Papoose]

I am a two-spirit male youth from the new england area, and I have been looking for a two spirit symbol to encoorperate onto my grass dance regalia...

If anyone has anything to share, please email me at [email protected].. Aho

[Danielle]

I am Danielle, a 20 year old lesbian native of the Red Cliff Lake Superior Chippewa Band and I came across this web site and article because I am researching history within the gay and lesbian cultures within the Native American culture. This atricle has created a new window which I have never known. Thank you, Shadowtale. If anyone has information about this topic or related topics, please feel free to email me.

-Thank You

[Melissa Hoskins]

My name is Melissa Hoskins. I live in Tampa, Florida. I am Cherokee, Lesbian, I am 35 yrs old. I typed my name in, and this article came up. Just thought I would say hello to a woman that has my name and obviously shares the same interests as I do.
Keep Up the Great Work.

Melissa

[Shadowtale]

The authors of the article say:

Remembering Our Traditions
Since the time of colonization many American Indians have forgotten the "old" way. Many converted to a Western religion, which did not accept traditional spirituality and community structures.

Just as this is true, so it is also true that many non-First Nations' gay people find themselves totally disenchanted with Western religion precisely because it not only cannot accept but also because it cannot recognize the inborn spirituality very much alive in the Gift of their Queerness which the Creator gave them. While of course they have the power to love members of their own gender fully and completely, they also very often fulfill roles society traditionally equates with their opposite gender.

The question, then, is what place do non-First Nations gender variants have, if any, within the Two Spirit circle?