# data[].attributes.body
This resource, like Lee Airton's friendly action plan, helps students action next steps in learning about LGBTQ2S+ and gender inclusivity. It could also be used to help create a collective culture of inclusion in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
National Geographic - Gender Inclusivity Quiz

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Chapter 8 - An Action Plan for Standing Up Besides Your Person (Lee Airton)

# data[].attributes.body
Lee Airton. Gender: Your Guide : A Gender-Friendly Primer on What to Know, What to Say, and What to Do in the New Gender Culture. Adams Media; 2018. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.queensu.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1954596&site=ehost-live

Chapter 8 presents a student friendly action plan, which could be used in any space and/or program around the school that aims to mentor LGBTQ2S+ allies. Centred on this chapter there could be plenty of good work and discussion around positive and inclusive school community building.

# data[].attributes.body
YouTube. (2018, June 15). Ma-nee Chacaby talks about two spirit identities. YouTube. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juzpocOX5ik

Representing Two Spirit voices in the Indigenous community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ma-Nee Chacaby talks about Two Spirit identities

# data[].attributes.body
Filice, M. (2020, July 3). Two-spirit. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/two-spirit#

A great resource for a history classroom that explores Indigenous stories pre and post colonial contact.

The resource provides knowledge of the historical and contemporary story Two Spirit peoples on Turtle Island and modern day Canada.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A rainbow crosswalk celebrating Pride, in downtown Vancouver, 2013.

Pre-Colonial Uses of the Term

Different Indigenous cultures have their own variations of the term two-spirit, but all of these terms have historically been used to describe similar traits embodied by two-spirit people including gender variance, specialized work roles, same-sex attraction and spiritual identity.

Two-spirit commonly referred to gender identity, dress and traditional roles. The Cree terms napêw iskwêwisêhot and iskwêw ka napêwayat respectively reference men who dress like women and women who dress like men. The Siksika (Blackfoot) term aakíí'skassi described men who performed roles typically associated with women, such as basket weaving and pottery-making. Similarly, the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) term titqattek described females who took on roles traditionally characterized as masculine, including healing, hunting and warfare. One of the most well-known two-spirit people who identified as female was We'wha (1846-96) of New Mexico. She was referred to as lhaman or "mixed gender" in the Zuni language. In various Indigenous cultures, temperament, work roles, dress and lifestyle distinguished two-spirited individuals from men and women.

In some cases, the term referred specifically to sexuality, such as the Mi'kmaq phrase Geenumu Gessalagee, which means "he loves men." However, two-spirit people did not necessarily see themselves as homosexual; sexual relationships between a two-spirit and a non-two-spirit were considered hetero-normative. While European colonists considered two-spirit people homosexual, and while the modern usage of the term can describe homosexuals, historically, two-spirit people did not so easily identify as either homosexual or heterosexual.

Two-spirit also referred to spiritual identity. In many Indigenous communities, two-spirited individuals were believed to have received supernatural intervention in the form of dreams and visions. As such, they often filled special spiritual roles in their communities as healers, shamans and ceremonial leaders ( see Indigenous People: Religion and Spirituality). Historically, two-spirit people were also great sources of knowledge; they were keepers of traditions and tellers of creation stories.

Two-spirit was a complex role and identity that modern-day two-spirited individuals can use to reclaim traditions related to gender identity, sexual preference, spiritual identity and traditional roles.

Two-Spirit Traditions Post-Contact

From the 17th to the 19th century, European missionaries and explorers often wrote about their interactions with two-spirit people. These records demonstrate the initial endurance of two-spirit traditions after contact. British explorer of the Hudson's Bay Company Alexander Henry described two-spirit Ozaw-wen-dib in his journal as "a curious compound of man and woman." In his exploration records, the North West Company's David Thompson wrote about his encounter with Kaúxuma Núpika, a woman who Thompson claimed "declared her sex changed, that she was now a Man, dressed and armed herself as such, and also took a young woman to Wife."

In their records, missionaries and explorers often used the term berdache to refer to two-spirit people. Historically, the term referred to the younger partner in a homosexual relationship with an age disparity. By the early 20th century, berdache became the accepted anthropological term for two-spirit people. Overtime, it became a general term for male homosexual and is now generally considered outdated and offensive.

Fewer accounts of two-spirit people were recorded by the turn of the 19th century. Colonization, Christian missions and instruments of cultural assimilation, including the residential school system, had served to silence two-spirit traditions in some Indigenous communities.

Contemporary Usage of the Term

In the early 1990s, as part of an effort to reclaim traditions, Indigenous peoples sought to find a word or phrase originating from an Indigenous community to replace berdache. Although there were terms in various Indigenous languages to describe third and fourth genders (i.e., men-women and women-men) as well as homosexual people, they wanted a contemporary term that could be used by the general public.

At the third annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1990, activist Albert McLeod proposed the term two-spirit to refer to the Indigenous LGBTQ community. The term was well received by the conference attendees and soon gained popularity within Indigenous communities. The term is used today to broadly reference the Indigenous LGBTQ community. Some two-spirit societies also use the terms LGBTQ2S or LGBTTIQQ2S (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersexual, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited) to incorporate two-spirit people within the larger LGBTQ community.

LGBTQQ2S Awareness

From the 1990s to the present, awareness about two-spirit people has increased both within and outside Indigenous communities. Organizations such as the National Confederacy of Two-Spirit Organizations (NC2SO) and the Northeast Two-Spirit Society (now known as the East Coast Two Spirit Society, EC2SS) seek to educate the general public about two-spirit traditions. They also serve as sources of support for Indigenous LGTBQ individuals. In January 2013, NC2SO and EC2SS created a resource directory of two-spirit groups in Canada and the United States.

Despite growing awareness, some two-spirit people continue to face sexual and gender discrimination and violence in communities that are not accepting of their lifestyle. In 2001, Fred Martinez, a 16-year-old Navajo transgender person, was beaten to death near Cortez, Colorado. The film Two Spirits (2011) documents this tragic story while also exploring the history of LGBTQ identity in many Indigenous cultures. The Martinez murder, as well as other well-known cases, such as the murder of HIV/ AIDS activist and self-identifying two-spirit Dolan Badger on 12 January 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta, have served to ignite conversations about LGBTQ rights in Canada and the United States ( see LGBT Rights in Canada).

In 2013, on the eve of National Aboriginal Day and World Pride Toronto, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust - Canada's only national charity promoting LGBTQ rights through research, education and community engagement - announced the launch of the Two Spirits, One Voice program. Designed by two-spirit people from across Canada, this program aims to "bolster allyship with indigenous communities and educate youth, police and community service providers on the historical and contemporary roles of Two Spirit Canadians." The program serves to highlight two-spirit voices, reclaim traditions and make Indigenous communities and urban spaces safer for two-spirit people.

Did You Know?
On National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2020, the organizations We Matter, Taxi and Facebook Canada launched a social media campaign, asking Indigenous youth to define what two-spirit means to them. Submissions will be compiled into a dictionary about the term.

Reclaiming Two-Spirit Identity

A key aspect of the two-spirit movement has been to reclaim pre-colonial traditions. Indigenous support groups in various First Nations communities have helped to provide two-spirit people with health counselling, the advice of elders and the opportunity to participate in sharing circles -small-group discussions in which participants can openly express their feelings and experiences, without fear of judgement. In many communities, art has also become an important element of the reclamation and sharing process. Art provides two-spirit people with a way to communicate their identities, traditions and stories with non-two-spirit people.

Renowned Cree artist Kent Monkman has given a voice to two-spirit communities. In his art, Monkman explores homosexuality and the ways in which Indigenous peoples have been portrayed in 19th and 20th century paintings. Through his depictions of homosexuality, Monkman's art showcases Indigenous stories, traditions and perspectives that disappeared with the influence of colonialism and Christianity. As a means of exaggerating the "egotistical" perspectives of 19th century painters, Monkman developed an alter-ego drag persona in 2010: Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, who is a reoccurring character in his paintings, videos and performances. Monkman's artwork has served as an inspiration for those who seek to reclaim and promote two-spirit traditions.

For some two-spirit people, drag can be an effective way of exploring and expressing their identities. In a well-known example, Massey Whiteknife, a 35-year-old member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and business owner in the subarctic Alberta oil sands, also identifies as ICEIS Rain, a female karaoke performer. Whiteknife explains that Rain helps him to overcome a personal history of sexual abuse and bullying. Rain first gained notoriety for her performances in 2013 as a featured entertainer in the Canadian documentary, Oil Sands Karaoke. Since then, Rain has released her first album, The Queen - a collection of ballads and country-rock songs meant to inspire LGBTQQ2S individuals to embrace their identity. In 2014, her album was nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Rock CD at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards (now Indigenous Music Awards). Rain also became the first two-spirit person to perform at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards.

In recent years, films have also served to highlight two-spirit traditions and identities. In 2007, a National Film Board of Canada documentary First Stories - Two Spirited, discussed the difficulty of living the life of a two-spirit person. Directed by Sharon A. Desjarlais, the film told the story of Rodney "Geeyo" Poucette, a two-spirit person who struggled to find acceptance in his community. Fire Song, a 2015 film by Cree-Métis director Adam Garnet Jones, also explores the difficulty some two-spirit people face in finding acceptance. In the film, the title character, Shane (Andrew Martin), a young Anishinaabe man, must choose between staying in his community and exploring the world outside his reserve.

Through various forms of self-expression, two-spirit people have found ways to communicate their views and pre-colonial traditions, while also showcasing their own personal stories and identities.

Significance

Two-spirit organizations, individuals and the term itself mark a return to Indigenous cultural traditions that have historically recognized more than two genders. As Jeremy Dutcher, Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik) activist, educator and program coordinator of Two Spirits, One Voice, said on the eve of World Pride in Toronto, Ontario, "There is a long history of acceptance of Two Spirit people here on Turtle Island [North America] before the arrival of the European Settlers. This pride is returning to our communities." Two-spirit societies continue to raise awareness about LGBTQ2S individuals in communities across North America.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A rainbow crosswalk celebrating Pride, in downtown Vancouver, 2013. Different Indigenous cultures have their own variations of the term two-spirit, but all of these terms have historically been used to describe similar traits embodied by two-spirit people including gender variance, specialized work roles, same-sex attraction and spiritual identity.

# data[].attributes.body
Obadia, S., & MacMillen, E., (Hosts). (2022, April 28) Joshua Whitehead's "A Geography of Queer Woundings" (Season 2 Episode 6) [Audio podcast episode] In Inspired Word Cafe Podcast. Inspired Word Cafe https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eZHwNuscYylNj0S4wgJLg

The Inspired Word Cafe aims to educate youth about public speaking, personal development, and community responsibility through annual school and community-wide mentorship programs.

The organization offer a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ2SIA+ members interested in literary arts and presentation of LGBTQ2SIA+ work.

In this episode acclaimed Oji-nêhiyaw, Two-Spirit author Joshua Whitehead about his forthcoming work "A Geography of Queer Woundings". The podcast does feature episodes with other Two Spirit authors and other writers. across the Canadian literary sphere.

This episode is quite sophisticated and isn't appropriate for younger students. It could be used in an upper school English class.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Season 2 Episode 6 - Joshua Whitehead's "A Geography of Queer Woundings"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Listen to this episode from Inspired Word Café on Spotify. On this episode of Inspired Word Café, we chat with acclaimed Oji-nêhiyaw, Two-Spirit author Joshua Whitehead about his forthcoming work "A Geography of Queer Woundings". Find Joshua:Twitter and Instagram: @jwhitehead204Find more IWC at www.inspiredwordcafe.com We recognize that this podcast is made on the unceded traditional territory of the syilx Okanagan nation.

# data[].attributes.body
Catterall, P., & Azzouz, A. (2022, September 13). The queer city: How to design more inclusive public space. The Conversation. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from Thhttps://theconversation.com/the-queer-city-how-to-design-more-inclusive-public-space-161088

An excellent academic conversation about the importance of queer spaces in urban design. This could be used during a unit on urban liveability, design, and/or planning.
There are plenty of embedded resources throughout the 'conversation', including an interested video on "queering the public space".
This is a great resource to stimulate discussion around inclusive urban spaces, which is particularly important in a city like Toronto with a diverse urban population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The queer city: how to design more inclusive public space

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The gaybourhood gave LGBTQ+ communities the space they urgently needed to simply be themselves. But our cities should be built in such a way that everyone feels at home

# data[].attributes.body
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and advocate from Eabametoong First Nation.

Recently Riley spoke as a guest speaker at an Upper School assembly where I work. She spoke as part of a series during Truth and Reconciliation Week. Her presentation spoke to 'integrity', particularly in reference to being true to yourself and making space for your values and identity in places that matter to you, in Riley's case this was within the Prime Minister's Youth Council.

Much of Riley's work speaks to Indigenous rights advocacy. I think Riley shines a light on an important intersection that exists between marginalized communities in Canada and should be seen as a role model for young people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and advocate from Eabametoong First Nation.

She has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world, including the New York Times, BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and CBC National News.

Riley has also travelled the globe speaking at internationally renowned institutions and events, including the UN climate negotiations, the Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality, TEDx stages, and many others.

Her major project right now is to finish her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, where she studies Indigenous/Canadian politics and is a Vanier Scholar.

Her love and gratitude for her communities, passion for radical ideas, and the call she feels to challenge systems is what inspires her work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and advocate from Eabametoong First Nation. She has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world, including the New York Times, BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and CBC National News.

# data[].attributes.body
Mosaic Institute. (2020, August 25). Community conversations: Riley Yesno on misconceptions of indigenous people and Settler Canada. YouTube. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmc5RhpLwSs

The Mosaic Institute is generally a good resource -- it aims provide people (and students) with the tools to dismantle prejudice in their own communities through: policy, research, dialogue, and training.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Community Conversations: Riley Yesno on Misconceptions of Indigenous People and settler Canada

# data[].attributes.body
Yesno, R. (2019, May 13). It's time to re-imagine Canada's 'nice' identity. YouTube. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZih64Z2wxQ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
It's Time to Re-imagine Canada's 'nice' Identity  | Riley Yesno | TEDxUofT

# data[].attributes.body
Government of Canada, S. C. (2021, June 15). A statistical portrait of Canada's diverse LGBTQ2+ communities. Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210615/dq210615a-eng.htm

A demographic and social profile of Canada's diverse LGBTQ2+ communities based on published analyses, which Canada has been doing since 2003.
The note to the readers in the Statistics Canada website could be used as a resource too. It highlights the importance of language, which could lead to learning about inclusive acronyms, language, and its evolution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Gender Census (2022): The identities of the survey responders 

# data[].attributes.body
Gender census 2022: Worldwide report. Gender Census. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.gendercensus.com/results/2022-worldwide/

A collection of, “39,765 usable responses. It’s a community-based project that is not affiliated with any organisations, companies or academic institutions, so it was promoted entirely on social media and by word of mouth.”

This resource could be used in a unit on population characteristics.

The information on the Gender Census and the results from the survey could help students think critically about the limitations of census data, and the importance of inclusion when it comes to big data collection and analysis.

There are some interesting quotes, statistics and graphs which could be used to formulate questions, begin discussions, and inspire reflections about the growing LGBTQ2S+ community in Canada.