DoomsdaysCW<p>For <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TwoSpirits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TwoSpirits</span></a>, An Opportunity To Reclaim Acceptance Across <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IndianCountry" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IndianCountry</span></a> </p><p>KLCC | By Brian Bull<br>Published November 29, 2018 </p><p>"The term '<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TwoSpirit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TwoSpirit</span></a>' in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NativeAmerican" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NativeAmerican</span></a> culture often describes a person possessing both male and female spirits. And they’ve been around well before the Santa Maria or the Mayflower dropped anchor. And while 'Two Spirit has been used for Indians who identify as gay, bisexual, or transgender…many say there’s more to it than that. KLCC’s Brian Bull explores a community that’s finding its voice again after generations of oppression, prejudice, and oversight.</p><p>"This summer, the annual <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Powwow" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Powwow</span></a> in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SiletzOregon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SiletzOregon</span></a> presented something subtle…yet powerful.</p><p>"A new sign affirming tribal members could compete in the gender category of their preference debuted at this year's annual <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SiletzPowWow" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SiletzPowWow</span></a>.</p><p>"Lisa Norton, a member of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ConfederatedTribesOfSiletz" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ConfederatedTribesOfSiletz</span></a> Indians, explains.</p><p>"'It’s a competition pow-wow, so people dance in categories…traditionally male or female.</p><p>"'So one of the things we wanted to do was <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ungender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ungender</span></a> that, so we were able to post a sign that said we were an open and affirming pow-wow. And that people could feel free to compete in the category they desired.'</p><p>"It was the first time such a sign was posted at the event. This pleased <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/JackieCloud" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JackieCloud</span></a>, a Chippewa who identifies as a 'Two Spirit'.</p><p>"'And I also saw Two Spirit individuals out there dancing. And I was like, 'YEAH! Cool!'</p><p>"Cloud joined the other dancers.</p><p>"'Y’know there’s that twinge of excitement, exhilaration, oh like…it’s okay. And I commented to someone that I was with there at the pow-wow, and she said, 'That’s where we need to be. That’s where we need to be going.'</p><p>"'And so I was very proud of the tribe of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Siletz" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Siletz</span></a> to…to acknowledge that.'"</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.klcc.org/arts-culture/2018-11-29/for-two-spirits-an-opportunity-to-reclaim-acceptance-across-indian-country" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">klcc.org/arts-culture/2018-11-</span><span class="invisible">29/for-two-spirits-an-opportunity-to-reclaim-acceptance-across-indian-country</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Decolonize" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Decolonize</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NonBinary" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NonBinary</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GBLTQI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GBLTQI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Activism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Activism</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Reclamation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Reclamation</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Indigiqueer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Indigiqueer</span></a></p>