Two-Spirit world gathers in Oklahoma in November
- by Brian Eckberg
Two-Spirit Columnist
In 1988, the first international gathering of queer Indigenous people occurred in Minneapolis, MN. Two years later, their annual assembly had outgrown a continuously evolving name: Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference.
By the 1990 event, organizers recognized that a new term was needed: a term that could unite and define their movement. From that gathering in Manitoba, Canada, the term “Two-Spirit” was born.
While the original Two-Spirit meaning refers to Natives with both a male and female spirit, it has grown outward as an umbrella term that welcomes all gender and sexual diverse Indigenous people. Whether they identify as “Two-Spirit,” “IndigQueer,” or neither, these people are welcomed within Two-Spirit Societies all over Turtle Island (The Americas).
Now, for the first time, this gathering of queer Indigenous people will take place in Oklahoma. The 37th annual International Two-Spirit Gathering (I2SG) will be held at Canyon Camp, near Hinton, OK., November 13-17. The International Society chose the Oklahoma-based All Nations Two-Spirit Society (ANTSS) to host the gathering in a state that 39 federally recognized nations call home. Queer Native Americans are invited to attend alongside Two-Spirit people from all 50 states, Canada and Mexico.
The I2SG will offer internationally recognized leaders, sweat lodges, and Native home-cooked meals where we will share tribal recipes, a pageant, a talent show, drum circles and dancers.
The gathering is also an opportunity for queer Natives to rediscover ancient spiritual practices and reclaim their unique roles as healers. Before European contact on Turtle Island, gender-variant people (later known as Two-Spirit) were quite common. They have been historically documented across the continent. The binary view of sexuality and gender is a new and colonized concept that seeped into Indigenous spiritual and religious practices over the centuries.
Now, as Two-Spirit people begin to reclaim their true identities, they are also working to de-colonize their own Native communities’ mindsets.
ANTSS, also known as “The Aunties,” hosts two major events each year in Oklahoma: our Two-Spirit Fest in spring and the Two-Spirit Gathering in autumn. The Aunties are extending the registration period for this year’s Gathering until September 16. Registration and payment can be completed on the website at www.antss.co (not “dot com”).
You’ll find the registration and payment links in the “Events” menu. Your payment includes lodging, meals and all events.
The Gayly is invested in the Two-Spirit community, which is why they have committed to this monthly column. We will continue to feature the happenings of the IndigiQueer/Two-Spirit community. As the co-founder of All Nations Two-Spirit Society and on behalf of our people, I am grateful to The Gayly for allowing me to provide these stories.
We plan to cover the events and people from everywhere The Gayly reaches, which includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas.
You can get involved with the Two-Spirit community by contacting me via e-mail at brianjennings.bj@gmail.com or register for the International Gathering now and join us in person. Visit www.antss.co for information about the All Nations Two Spirit Society.
Wado!
The Gayly 08/29/2024 @12:45 p.m. CST.