Two-Spirit Identity by penbeatsword

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

I've been trying to write something that captures the essence of Two-Spirit identity. This has not been an easy task. I was recently referred to a piece published on Queensland Pride's website yesterday, "Native American Two-Spirit People", written by Eliot Rifkin. Here is a link to the article, which I've pasted below.

http://queenslandpride.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/featur…

For someone who is not NDN, and with a few inaccuracies here and there, he does a pretty good and objective job of capturing our history. I will write a follow-up to it, expanding on what he wrote with regards to our history, and clarifying the presence and roles that Two-Spirit people who were and are biologically female have and continue to occupy in our communities. I will also discuss the diversity of our identity, traditional roles, and how we fit into contemporary times. When you read what he wrote, understand that while Two-Spirit people are often associated with being "gay indians," sexual orientation is far from the principal characteristic of being Two-Spirit, and many were and are 'other than gay', so-to-speak. Also, be mindful of the past tense he frequently uses. Two-Spirit peoples are alive today, as are our Nations.

Native American Two-Spirit People

Last month, American movie director Arthur Penn passed away (of Wild Bunch and Bonny & Clyde fame.) So I sat down to watch one of his classic westerns, Little Big Man, set in the 1870s and to my surprise, there's a Native American gay man in it named Little Horse. What a wild concept? gay Indians in the old west!

I did some research and there they were, Two-Spirit people, apparently a common phenomenon and recorded by many early American West explorers in over 130 American Indian tribes, in every region of North America. All tribes respected and revered Two-Spirit people.

Becoming a Two-Spirited person was the result of supernatural intervention in the form of visions or dreams while on one's spiritual path. The privilege of housing both male and female spirits in one body was a gift from the Creator. They had the ability to see the world from two perspectives simultaneously; this greater vision was to be shared with all.

Children with a proclivity for the opposite gender were encouraged to live out their lives in the gender role that fit them best. Parents assisted their child with this tendency in pursuing it rather than discouraging it. Other children were taught that it's part of his character and to respect him.

The child was taught to do women's work as well as that reserved for men and spend time with healers, who often were Two-Spirit people themselves.

Having a Two-Spirit in one's family was a sign of luck and good fortune. They were considered half-man and half-woman, acting as mediators between men and women - serving as matchmakers and resolving conflicts. They also acted as mediums between the physical and the spiritual world. Most tribes felt fortunate having two-spirits around for that task believing it's dangerous interacting with the spiritual realm. Additionally, Two-Spirit people were believed to have mystical healing powers, often taken into battle to care for the wounded and given access to male activities such as sweat lodges. They excelled in weaving, beadwork, and pottery; arts associated almost solely with the women of the tribe.

Two-spirits commonly married widowers, parenting the children of his late wife without any risk of bearing new children. Some believed that after having sex with a Two-Spirit they'd obtain magical abilities or receive a boost to their masculinity. Often, they were available for sex with both unmarried adolescent boys and married men who occasionally sought same-sex partners. They were also available as sexual partners during war parties, which was yet another reason why they were brought to battle. They were valued as marriage partners bringing prosperity, since they've the endurance and strength of a man; their productivity was greater than that of most women.

It was in 1990 when the 'Native American Gay and Lesbian Gatherings' coined the phrase "Two-Spirited", a direct translation of the Chippewa term for a person whose body simultaneously houses a masculine and feminine spirit. Two-Spirited replaced the offensive French colonial term berdache introduced by early North American explorers. 17th-century French dictionaries defined berdache as "a young man who's shamefully abused, permitting sodomy to be committed on him." Berdache failed to grasp the sacred and spiritual dimensions Two-Spirits held for a tribe.

Most American Indian worldviews weren't based in polar terms of "either/or", but rather along a masculine-feminine continuum. The mere existence of Two-Spirit people threatened the rigid binary worldview of North American colonizers. The European backlash was violent and word of their brutal treatment spread quickly. Many Indian nations protected their valued Two-Spirit people by hiding them. Their lives were now at risk; Christian missionaries considered them "sodomites" encouraging their eradication. By the beginning of the 20th-century, Two-Spirits had almost been wiped out of existence.

Because of the impact of colonization, many American Indians have forgotten their "old" way. Many converted to Western religions and the dominant North America culture's homophobia eroded the rich aspects of the Two-Spirit traditions. They lost their rightful place in their communities.

Fortunately, groups of elders and activists quietly kept the Two-Spirit tradition alive and once again, they're fulfilling some of their roles and regaining the respect of their communities.

Underlying the current gay rights struggle is the desire for a respected integrated place in our greater society.

Perhaps those seeking equality should look towards the Two-Spirits who were accepted and honoured for their special qualities and relished as contributing members of society. As Joe Medicine Crow of the Crow Nation said, "We don't waste people the way white society does. Every person has their gift."

Written by Eliot Rifkin 20 October 2010

 

As with most "research" and published work, the focus of the article I referenced has been on Two-Spirit people who were and are biologically male. My clarification was meant to be that the author does not mention Two-Spirit people who are biologically female, not that biologically-male Two-Spirits didn't/don't exist. In re-reading what I wrote, I could see how it's possible to interpret it the way you did, and if that's the case, I offer my apologies.

I agree that our Traditions have not been preserved, honored, and taught the way they should have been. Personally, my purpose as a Two-Spirit Person is to do what I can to support the preservation of our People and our Traditions. I know others who seek to focus on our sexuality as our primary identifier. For me, I believe that is only one of many aspects of what makes us who we are, and it is in these other arenas that I feel it is important to focus. It is not just the future of Two-Spirit People that depends on this, it is the health and future of NDN and First Nations People everywhere.

 

[Fenyxfirewolf]

Thank you for the very interesting article. Although I myself am not a Native American Indian, I DO consider myself as Two-Spirited. As a gay pagan man who uses the feminine Divine the majority of the time in ritual (often in drag) as well as being the "housekeeper" of our home I relate to this very well.