07/07/2024
LGBTQIA cultural magazine Them reports that it is time to clarify the use of the term "Two Spirit" to describe native American people who are somewhere under the LGBTQIA rainbow banner. Importantly, they say that the term is highly culturally specific and should not be used interchangeably with non-binary or queer identities. Quispe Lopez at the website writes the following crucial definition: "Prior to colonization, gender-variant people were often revered in their communities, commonly responsible for maintaining sacred traditions — but centuries of European imperialism and persecution forced many Two-Spirit people to carry out their duties in secret. The term Two-Spirit was coined in the 1990s by Native activists as a way to describe these specific identities and roles under one banner, from Diné Nádleehí to Quechua Qariwarmi. The phrase itself is a translation of an Anishinaabemowin term “niizh manidoowag,” which directly translates to “two spirits.” Because Two-Spirit refers to specific cultural roles within Native communities, it is not the same as being Indigenous and trans, or Indigenous and nonbinary, or Indigenous and queer. While Two-Spirit people can also be trans, queer, or nonbinary, being Two-Spirit is its own category of identity. It’s also important to note, non-Native people cannot be Two-Spirit, as it is a culturally specific identity."
