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Transforming Embers 2Spirit Wellness Society
Supporting Coast Salish 2Spirit/urban Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ relatives & their families living on Coast Salish lands and waters
Squamish Nation 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion
2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion is identifying and removing challenges by addressing the unique needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ people so they can fully participate in social, cultural, spiritual, and economic life along with everyone else in the Squamish Nation.
Two-Spirit History Made!
September, 18, 2016, the First Nation communities, Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam Nations, jointly hosted a #Two-Spirit Gathering on the traditional and unceded territory of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation located in what is now called North Vancouver, BC.
Coast Sailish Two-Spirit Pride Banner
June 4, 2019 Coast Sailish Two-Spirit Pride banner was recently unveiled at the UBC AMS Nest.
Two spirits, one struggle: The front lines of being First Nations and gay
Vancouver fashion designer Tyler-Alan Jacobs is one of hundreds of Vancouverites who identify as two-spirit – a First Nations term for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other-gender identities.
For first time ever, Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh will all have floats in Vancouver’s Pride Parade
2018 marked the first time Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations had their own floats in Vancouver's Pride Parade.
campOUT!
Creates an inclusive leadership summer camp experience for queer, trans, Two-Spirit, and allied youth ages 14-21 from across BC and the Yukon.
Indigenous Brilliance Series
The series grew out of the shared desire of Massy Books owner Patricia Massy and Room Magazine editorial board members Jónína Kirton and Jessica Johns to raise the voices of Indigenous women, Two Spirit and queer writers.
Vertical Files
- Subject HeadingsThe majority of our vertical files are organized according to our classification system and are catalogued. Some of the vertical files are organized alphabetically by subject. The following Word document can help you locate these items.
Two-Spirit & Indigenous Queer Studies Research Guide QR Code
Use this QR code to quickly share this guide with others.
Getting Started
Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Studies is an interdisciplinary field grounded in the languages, cultures, histories, geographies, identities and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples in relation to gender and sexual expression.
In addition to Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer folks may also encounter the acronym, "2SIQ (pronounced too-sick; a humorous reference to Two-Spirit/Indigequeer People “being deadly” and admired)." This term was first coined by, "members of the Transforming Embers Host Family and community" in 2024. (Source: Transforming Embers 2Spirit Wellness Society).
The term "Two-Spirit" (also stylized as: two spirit, two spirited, Two-Spirit, Two-Spirited or 2Spirit) is a pan-Indigenous term coined in 1990 at the Third Annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg by Elder Myra Laramee shared the name "Two-Spirit" and it was quickly adopted to replace outdated, offensive language and to distinguish the experience of Indigenous peoples from non-Indigenous peoples. (Source: The History of Two-Spirit Folks — The Indigenous Foundation)
Generally Two-Spirit is not a term used interchangeably to refer to Indigenous LGBTQIA+ or Indigiqueer experiences, although these identities may be closely connected for many people. Ceremonial and traditional cultural roles are frequently and exclusively associated with Two-spirit people. Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer work may (or may not) intersect with critical approaches such as decolonization and feminism.
For more information on Two-Spirit history & people see August 4, 2020 ‘TWO-SPIRIT’ Turns 30!! by Harlan Pruden (August 3, 2020). Pruden also has some Two-Spirit terms you can find here: cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/documents/igh_two_spirit-en.pdf
Featured Resources
Out on the Shelves is a non-profit, LGBT2QIA+ community library built and cared for by volunteers, librarians, and librarians-in-training who are committed to anti-oppressive social justice work. Although we are located on UBC's West Point Grey campus, we are not officially affiliated with UBC or its libraries. Library cards are FREE!
- Two-Spirit TalksTwo-Spirit podcast on life, futurisms, labels, sexuality, and gender.
- Just Be Yourself: A Health & Wellness Guide for Trans, Two-Spirit, & Nonbinary YouthThis guide addresses wellness-related questions from Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across so-called Canada.
Related Guides
- Queen’s University Gender Studies guideSearch “Indigenous” in the guide for Indigenous issues and perspectives.