Hi Auntie! I live in a community where some of our elders think it’s wrong to be two spirit. What should I do?
I am sorry to hear that.
The irony is that before colonization a lot of tribes deeply revered two-spirit people as they were often looked to for guidance in negotiations or were medicine people.
Some tribes and tribal people are finding their way back to this, but like most things it will take time.
Regardless of your Elder’s perspective, LGBTQ people are found in every single culture in every corner of the world. Unfortunately, some cultures are more accepting, while others aren’t. Let’s help our tribal members break this cycle that wasn’t even ours to begin with.
My suggestion is that you reach out to a trusted elder in your community and talk to them about your tribes culture and traditions. You can also find stories and oral histories on We R Native’s website.
Continue to seek support in your tribe and your traditional histories. I’m sending you good thoughts and prayers.
Auntie Manda
