Episode 96: Understanding Gender and Two-Spirit

June is both National Indigenous History month and Pride month.

On June 30, 2022, we explored gender identity - pronouns, queer, asexual - and took a deep dive into Two-Spirit, a term used within some Indigenous communities to encompass cultural, spiritual, sexual and gender identity.  Two-Spirit reflects complex Indigenous understandings of gender roles, spirituality, and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures.  (Definition of Two-Spirit taken from Trans Care BC, PHSA)

Our guests:

Barry Moore (he/him, they/them) is the Chair of Out on the Shelf and Capacity Builder at ARCH (HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health).

Musko Giizhigo Ikwe (Red Sky Woman)/Hollee George is a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe Ikwe Knowledge-Keeper and ceremony-carrier who centres voices of residential and day school survivors like herself and her family.  Hollee’s academic and employment background is centred on justice, particularly criminal and social justice related to Indigenous and Queer people.  Musko is actively involved in several community organizations such as Spectrum Rainbow Community Space, CT Survivors Connect, and the Transartivist Project. 

Maude Stephany (they/them) is a genderfluid artist whose works cross many artistic disciplines.  They founded TransArtivistProject.org in 2021 - a Guelph-area non-profit organization that creates and runs programs that support the Two-Spirit and Transgender-spectrum community.  "We engage in storytelling using a variety of artistic practices in a community setting.  As part of our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the area, we host a monthly virtual Two-Spirit/Ally Sharing Circle led by Musko Giizhigo Ikwe/Holley George."

Kristy Bell-Theodorakopoulos (she/they) is a Two-Spirit Indigenous Algonquin of Kitigan Zibi, Bear Clan through her mom, and Greek through her father.  She was raised Greek Orthodox while hiding her true Pagan self.  By reclaiming her mother's culture and spirituality, she has freed herself to live an authentic life.  She has a supportive husband and 4 year-old daughter.
She runs a small spiritual-based business called Intuitive Me.  Here, she makes items by hand; items that - when respected and understood properly - aid in using the Creator's energy to influence our lives in a positive manner.

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