Gender-related issues have been a topic of heated debate for years. But while many believe that this is a progressive issue which has only gained momentum in the last few decades, many Native American tribes have accepted and lived in harmony with gender fluidity for centuries. Indigenous tribes believe that a person will identify with one of five variants. In addition to male, female, and transgender, Native Americans also observe the Two-Spirit female and Two-Spirit male. Traditionally, a Two-Spirit individual was considered an exceptional being and often took on the role of healer, shaman, seer or spiritual advisor within a community.
The number of Indigenous tribes that occupied what is now modern-day North, Central and South American is vast. Each tribe’s beliefs are unique to their community and there is no way to quickly note each distinction between the colloquial names and essence behind the Two-Spirit individual. Each tribe has its own word to describe a biological male who identifies as female or a biological female who identifies as a male. For example, the Navajo use the word nàdleehé which roughly translates to “the one who transforms.” However, the umbrella term “Two-Spirit” was established in 1989 to simplify this concept and generalize the idea of two spirits occupying and influencing one physical body.
The Two-Spirit identity is exclusive to Native American culture, and it is not appropriate for non-Natives to adopt. It’s said that elders Natives can immediately tell if a person is carrying one or two spirits, so it should not be assumed that every LGBTQ Native American is a Two-Spirit individual. There is a deep spiritual association with a Two-Spirited person and not every Native LGBTQ person realizes that quality. Many Two-Spirit individuals have been indoctrinated by their tribe and typically go through rituals and ceremonies to celebrate and better understand their dual spirit and extra gifts.
In some tribes, the knowledge of the Two-Spirit was suppressed or even lost during forced colonization and genocide by European settlers. Catholicism rejected the idea of more than the two traditional genders, and tribes were forced to give up or hide an integral part of their identity. Before then, Indigenous tribes openly supported and celebrated all genders within a society, without the presence of sexual discrimination. A Two-Spirit male could help with cooking or child-rearing, while the Two-Spirit females earned reputations as fierce warriors and reliable hunters. Members of the tribe were rewarded based on character and what they contributed to the community, never on sexual preference or lifestyle choices. The acceptance of gender fluidity within Indigenous society appears to have helped maintain equality and discourage prejudice. The concept of Two-Spirit may be exclusive to Native culture, but its story is a reminder to everyone of the power of celebrating individuality over making judgements that limit spiritual growth.