Two-Spirit (2S)

Two-Spirit is an umbrella term used by some Indigenous North Americans to describe Native people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third-gender role in their cultures. It can refer to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity.

Two-spirit individuals are revered, sacred, divine and held in high regard in Indigenous culture.

Two-spirit refers to another gender role believed to be common among most, if not all, peoples of Turtle Island (North America), one that had a proper and accepted place within Native societies. This acceptance was rooted in the spiritual teachings that say, “all life is sacred”.

Activist Albert McLeod developed the term in 1990 to broadly reference Indigenous peoples in the LGBTQ+ community. Two-spirit is used by some Indigenous peoples to describe their gender, sexual and spiritual identity.

In Canada, the term Indigenous Peoples refers to First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples. These are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. Though severely threatened — and in certain cases extinguished — by colonial forces, Indigenous culture, language and social systems have shaped the development of Canada and continue to grow and thrive despite extreme adversity.

Different Indigenous cultures have their own variations of the term two-spirit, but all of these terms have historically been used to describe similar traits embodied by two-spirit people including gender identity, dress, traditional roles, gender variance, specialized work roles, same-sex attraction and spiritual identity.

Two-spirit was a complex role and identity that modern-day two-spirit individuals can use to reclaim traditions related to gender identity, sexual orientation, spiritual identity and traditional roles.

You can also learn more about Two-Spirit history and culture from Out Saskatoon.