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PLEASE NOTE:  Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed [[Past Guest Commentary/Opinion Articles | here]].
 
PLEASE NOTE:  Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed [[Past Guest Commentary/Opinion Articles | here]].
  
=='''LISTEN TO REVEREND BRENT HAWKES' STIRRING LGBTQ TEDx TALK'''==  
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=='''Plains Cree Two Spirit People'''==  
  
By: The Reverend Brent Hawkes, C.M., Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
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By: [[Edward Lavallee]], Elder, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society
  
We highly recommend the recent TEDx talk given by the Reverend Brent Hawkes. The title of his presentation is 'Spirituality and Sexuality'.  In explaining his personal own story and those of others he has met throughout his life he has found that one does not have to choose between spirituality and sexuality, but rather that the two can co-exist.  This is true regardless of one's sexual orientation.
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[[File:coreybulpittart.jpg|200px|thumb|left|'Rainbow' by Canadian First Nation artist Corey Bulpitt]]
  
As the Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, Rev. Hawkes has been at the forefront of ministry to the Gay & Lesbian Community in Toronto. He serves as spiritual leader to a faith community of more than 600 congregants at regular Sunday worship. As well, he has served the community at large with distinction, championing several Human Rights initiatives, especially benefiting the Gay & Lesbian Community.  Reverend Brent Hawke is a recipient of the Order of Canada.  
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I had just returned after attending the 2002 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education that August at the Stoney Indian Park, at Morley, Alberta when I received a call from Richard Jenkins asking if I would attend the 14th Annual International Two Spirit People Gathering as their Elder. The Alberta group were members of the Aboriginal Two Spirit Working Group of Edmonton. Chief George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory who was one of its members had been successful in bidding to host that year’s International Gathering for Canada.
  
By viewing and sharing, you are helping to bump this talk up to the full TED site. Please share this inspiring talk with others.
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These International Two Spirit Gathering have been in existence since 1988 and have been hosted by various Aboriginal Two Spirit groups throughout North America and primarily those from Canada and the United States. Two Spirit Individuals and groups in the USA are also credited with getting the movement started influenced by the Gay movement in that country. Generally, the goal of the Gathering is to provide a safe, supportive and alcohol/drug free forum and environment for indigenous Two Spirit peoples from throughout North America to explore and experience their place in Indigenous cultures and communities. A sacred fire is lit at the beginning of each Gathering maintained throughout the week and extinguished at the end to assist in activities related to keeping a spiritual connection to the Creator. Other Activities during the week include pipe ceremonies, sage/sweetgrass ceremonies, sweats, plenary sessions, concurrent workshops, talking circles, support groups, recreation events, mini-pow wow/feast and a traditional give away.
  
To view the TEDx talk, [http://www.tedxtoronto.com/talks/spirituality-and-sexuality-rev-dr-brent-hawkes-c-m-tedxtoronto-2015/ CLICK HERE].
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I was at the time, telling everyone, that I was an Elder in training however that week I soon was carrying out full Elder duties and thus ever since then I have been taken as the full Elder with this same Edmonton Two Spirit group. At that time the host committee had 12 members from throughout Alberta representing First Nations, Metis and Urban Aboriginal Two Spirit men, women and youth. Its chair was Chief George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree Nation. The sponsoring organization for the Gathering was the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute of Alberta which had been in existence as not-for- profit entity since 1974. Richard Jenkins, its Director of Marketing and Health promotions applied and received funding in the amount of 45,000 dollars from the Canadian and Provincial governments. The venue for the event was at the Nakoda Lodge at Morley, Alberta.
  
----
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The event was a huge success. Issues in their plenary sessions discussed pre-contact issues, colonization, residential school impacts and health leadership topics on individual health matters, HIV/AIDs, HIV and community involvement, healing, recovery, sobriety, culture and language retention or loss thereof, alcohol as an escape to dealing with sexuality, homosexuality and the Bible and its interpretations, not feeling safe in home communities, drugs, addictions, STD’s, teen pregnancy, incarcerations, family violence, smoking, racism, experiences at residential schools, intergenerational impacts of Indian residential schools, loss of dignity and self respect and their susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and finally, noting that the Gathering changed their lives. The event ended with a feast, a pow wow (where members from the local community took part) and a traditional give away.
  
I stand here wearing religious clothing that for some symbolizes oppression. But I'm not a Priest. I'm a Metropolitan Community Church Pastor. I know how much this look turns some people off, but I choose not to surrender religious symbols or religious language to any institution that oppresses women and minorities.  And when I use God language some people will assume I'm using it in a narrow traditional sense and I'm not.  Often when people tell me they don't believe in God, I ask them to describe the God they don't believe in and I usually end up saying I don't believe in that god either.  I believe that the beauty of nature and the wonder of the human body are not just chance.  I believe there is something behind it all and I call that something God. Not an old white man with a beard ready to zap you when you do something wrong but a loving creative presence wishing to co-create with us an even better world. So if my look or my language initially bothers you, please hang in to see if what I have to say will comfort or challenge you even more............
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These Gatherings are attended by members of many different Nations throughout North America since their beginning including the diverse Nations of the Cree. It is believed by the Plains Cree Two Spirit (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Trans-sexual, Transgender and Inter-sex) people, similar to many other Two Spirit people in other Indigenous Nations, were regarded as people placed among them for specific purpose by the Creator (God) and therefore were thought to be divine.
  
So here goes-
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Two Spirit is a term some Indigenous people use to identify themselves rather than GLBTTIGG. It was adopted by delegates attending the 3rd annual International Gathering at Manitoba in 1990. Indigenous people believe that both the female and male spirits resides in the body of a Two Spirit individual and the degree of dominance of each spirit ultimately impacts the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual identity of each Two Spirit person. Many Nation people have their own beliefs and have specific names for their Two Spirit people. The Navaho call theirs Nadle, the Dakota-Winkte, The Ojibwa-Agokwa, and The Cree-Esqwaycan and so on.
+
I get teary-eyed whenever a rainbow flag is raised. I rejoice whenever there’s an advancement for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender community. I cheer when another celebrity comes out or another country approves equal marriage.  But even with all this, I know that millions of LGBT people live their lives longing to be part of a spiritual community, longing for a faith in a loving and accepting God and wanting the freedom to be who they really are, however, they are constantly pressured to choose between their spirituality and their sexuality. No one should have to make that choice. ..........But for many people that choice is forced upon them by their faith communities, their governments and their families. Deny who you are, give up your hope for love, and certainly don't push for equality and then maybe you'll be allowed to stay. Everyone should have the opportunity and the equal rights to love their God, to love themselves and to love the person they choose...........
+
  
I know that being forced to choose your spirituality over who you are is not unique to the LGBT community. Women, people in interfaith relationships, or those who just want to question some beliefs are often made to face the same choice.....
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They were a very important part of Cree society. They had many roles in the daily lives of their people and were respected and revered for being two spirited. They were often healers, shamans, mediators in marriage and tribal disputes, keepers of their history and their lore, and taking part and often leading in their social and Spiritual ceremonies
+
Just like many other Indigenous Nations, Plains Cree people took and lived with same sex partners and this practice was accepted as a norm. Chiefs and their leaders had wives and often had male companions as well if they could support them. This was also the practice of females in some of their nations.
I remember the pain when I realized I was different and when I didn't have the words to describe that difference..... I clearly remember an incident when I was young.  I was watching some boys play basketball, they were joking about homosexuals. I asked one of them what was a homosexual and he told me to look it up in the dictionary. That evening I did and the next day I told him it's about two men or two women being attracted to each other and I said I think that's me. He then picked me up and set me on a fence post and said that's evil and sick and you should never tell anyone that..... So I began to learn what others thought about my feelings.......
+
  
Around the age of three I became very involved in a Christian church and God became my best friend. Eventually I began to struggle wondering why if God loved me why would God do this to me. As I grew into my teenage years I regularly prayed for God to take away my attraction. But it never went away.  I became afraid that I would be alone the rest of my life. That I would never feel love or express love. That I would lose my family if they found out and that my church would kick me out. So I believed I had to make a choice between my spirituality and my sexuality........
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There is still today a ceremonial society called Wihtikancimoowak whose members include Two Spirit people who perform at Sundances (a four day annual Spiritual Gathering). They are known as Spirit Dancers or Contraries doing and saying things backwards as they perform in front of camp dwellings throughout the entire encampment and sometimes even are invited to dance in the main Sundance Lodge. At these times everyone must not look upon them as they are considered sacred spirits.
  
How could I love myself if God and my church hated who I really was.
+
The belief that Cree Two Spirit people are special is epitomized in the existence of a powerful Two Spirit, Spirit, known as Qweskicanskew in their spirituality, who they believe, turns things around for the good and well-being of humanity and for all things on Earth. This important Deity is called upon in prayers for help, protection and blessings.
My church was saying I was sinful, the law was saying I was a criminal and psychiatry was saying I was sick. While this has changed in some places, it hasn't in most of the world........
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All members of the Cree Nation who practiced Aboriginal Spirituality used to pray to this Spirit: however due to the negative influence of Christianity, this Spirit has almost been forgotten. This fact may be reversed in the future as Indigenous people are reminded about this important Deity in their Spirituality. Two Spirit songs are still known and sung today.
  
I believe that God loves us unconditionally. There is nothing you can do to cause God to love you more and nothing you can do to cause God to love you less.  We live in this bubble of love all the time and yet we don't recognize it because of what's thrown at us by faith communities and society. We're constantly told that we're not worthy, not good enough, not pretty enough, not holy enough.  If it is true that God loves us unconditionally then maybe it's time we love ourselves unconditionally and that involves accepting our own differences and forgiving our own mistakes. This means loving ourselves not in spite of our differences but because of our differences.......  The uniqueness we bring into the world is our gift to the world.  For me, my uniqueness is being gay, for you it may be differing abilities or body type or whatever.........
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Today Plains Cree Two Spirit people who are often marginalized in modern day society can be found in all walks of life. They are educators, professional government civil servants, Chiefs and other politicians, writers and actors, and generally are a part of their communities on reserves and in most cases in urban centres across Canada. They are emerging from their long decades of oppression and most of all becoming decolonized working towards re-establishing their rightful roles in their communities as they go through their period of rediscovery. They are working to be recognized, respected and engaged within indigenous communities and in society in general.
  
One definition of spirituality is a belief in something more beyond the physical universe.  The experience and expression of spirituality is different for each of us.  We see things differently. I see a sunset and I see God, an atheist sees the same sunset and sees the laws of nature. Both are correct. So when you claim your spirituality remember that other people will claim spiritualities different from yours.  They will see things differently.  One of the main beliefs at our church is that there are many paths to God and Christianity is one of them.....
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In some places, mostly in urban centres, they have created their own organizations to assist in this modern day movement towards self- development and recognition with the assistance of the technological age. They are sponsoring forums and gatherings to promote healing and to create healthy environments. As a result they are being heard in small instances at present but as their movement becomes stronger they hope they will gain and retain their lost and rightful roles.
  
And as you claim your spirituality I hope that you will find a faith community who will accept you and your uniqueness. Find one or create one.....A faith community at its best is one where you can explore life's big questions - why are we here, is there life after death, how can we be more forgiving, more generous, it's a place that challenges us to be open to new ideas, calls us to help each other through difficult times and encourages us to be more engaged in loving ourselves and loving our neighbours. We all can benefit from being part of a faith community like this where we can explore our own unique spiritualities in the company of others and bring forward all of ourselves including our sexuality........
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About our group in Edmonton, in 2003, when we were still known as the Aboriginal Two Spirit Working Group, we were affiliated and worked with the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton. Working again with the Nechi Institute we co-hosted the first Canadian Forum on Two Spirit Peoples and Health. That forum brought together eighty-two participants from various regions of Canada to discuss HIV-AIDS and other health issues facing Two Spirit people. Two key areas examined were those involving Corrections and Addictions. Other concerns, such as human rights, mental health, youth concerns and societal views on homosexuality were discussed. Again the Nechi Institute played a pivotal role in administering the secured dollars resulting in a successful event. A full report of the forum is available but not on line. Also a video of the event was made and produced and is available on U-tube.
 +
In 2003 the group incorporated as the Two Spirit Circle of Edmonton Society. It co-hosted, with the Nechi Institute again, a Two Spirit Gathering with Alberta Elders to learn teachings on the Protocols of the different uses of Tobacco in the various Aboriginal ceremonies as practiced by Cree people on the Plains. It had
 +
been decided that their Two Spirit members should know these teachings as part of their education on Two Spirit Practices.
  
I was told of a story once and I was told it was true, about a 3 year old girl who when her parents said they were going to have another baby was so happy and said she wanted to talk to the baby by herself. When the baby finally arrived the little girl repeated "I want to talk to the baby by myself." The parents placed the baby in the crib and went into the next room to listen on the monitor.  They could hear the girl walk up to the crib and say to the baby "would you tell me about God, I've almost forgotten"........
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Members of the Society had long realized that they must learn as much about their culture that they did not know if they were to begin and attempt to carry out their roles as Two Spirit people. Many did not know the ceremonies now practiced by their people, even those members that came from their reserve communities. Much of that part of their culture had long been lost as a result of the destructive influence of the State and Church in their lives since contact and more especially of the roles of Two Spirit people which were practically obliterated throughout the Americas.
  
I believe we all come from God and at birth we begin a natural process of moving away from our source.  We naturally begin to be independent, to breathe on our own, eat on our own, walk on our own and think on our own. When we claim our spirituality and find our spiritual home we can reconnect to our source, to where we really come from........
+
In 2004 the Leaders of Two Spirit Circle of Edmonton Society decided they must begin teaching its members about their Culture with the help of Aboriginal Elders and with education resources known to exit about their culture. For four years they held week long Two Spirit Tipi Gatherings at the Nechi cultural grounds in St. Albert, Alberta. Both Female and Male Elders were hired to conduct known teachings on the ceremonial practices that take place during the different seasons, known Aboriginal health medicines and their uses and some ceremonial songs. They were taught how to conduct naming and transfer ceremonies. Elder Leonard Saddleback of Maskwacis was one of their main supporters since its beginning and gave them credit as a cultural emerging group on the international scene when he travelled with them to a Two Spirit Gathering to Tulsa Oklahoma, to assist in conducting spiritual ceremonies at that Gathering. He also gave the Society Three ceremonial Pipes so the Society could start conducting their own pipe ceremonies.
  
One of the sayings that guides me in life is Dwell on the Positives while dealing with the negatives.  So while we have much work to do it's also true that we really have come a long way.......
+
Since then the Society has presented at Aboriginal Education conferences and to Schools in Alberta about Two Spirit people and their issues. They have written and helped produce a resource booklet with the Alberta Teachers Association to assist in the care and understanding of Two Spirit Youth in the schools in Alberta.
  
In 1981 at a demonstration  I was held by 2 police officers and beaten by a third.  As the violence increased I went on a 25 day hunger strike demanding an investigation into the relationship between the  police and the LGBT community. Fast forward 30 years. A young man went to his Dad and said he and his girlfriend were going to get married but they didn't know anyone do to the wedding.  His dad said you know Brent, why don't you ask him to do the wedding.  That Dad was the Chief of Police of Toronto.  We've come a long way....
+
So the work of the Cree and other Indigenous Two Spirit people is being carried out as a testament of their desired goal of attaining their roles of the past as much as they can.
  
On Jan 14, 2001 I performed the first legal marriages for a gay and lesbian couple anywhere in the world.  Because of the death threats I had to wear a bulletproof vest, I was assaulted that morning during a worship service, for the weddings there were 50 police officers in the church, and I had 12 bodyguards protecting me. Some of the toughest looking lesbians you've ever seen and one gay man coordinating it. There were protesters outside.  The weddings proceeded without incident.  The government refused to recognize them so we took them to court. Our case was joined with other cases.  We won and that's how Canada became the first country to have a legal same sex wedding, we've come a long way......
+
----
  
One day In June of 2007 I received a phone call from the office of the Governor General of Canada telling me that a selection committee headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court  had selected me for our country's highest honour, the Order of Canada for my work on behalf of the LGBT community.....  While this symbolizes how far we've come, frankly, it was also make possible because I made the choice to embrace both my spirituality and my sexuality.......
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'''Edward Lavallee''' ''is a traditional Plains Nehiyaw (Cree) of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Saskatchewan and has worked as co-editor of the Native People newspaper, published by the former Alberta Native Communication Society, now the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta. He has studied Aboriginal history, spirituality and philosophy with elders during a five- year stint at the Indian Cultural College, now affiliated with the First Nations University of Saskatchewan. He has worked with Aboriginal organizations across Canada and for federal and provincial governments in various management positions. Presently he volunteers as an Indigenous Advisor and Elder in Edmonton and sits on the Board of Directors of several Edmonton organizations.''
  
So now I have the words to describe who I am and I feel blessed to be who I am.
+
==See Also==
  
And I hope you, too, can get to the place of loving yourself including your uniqueness, claiming your spirituality and finding your spiritual home.....
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* [[The Two-Spirit, Aboriginal, and Native LGBTQ Community]]
 
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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MM7hM-Q_QM
So here we are today, I am an openly gay man talking about spirituality and sexuality and that it’s ok to be gay. However, there are nearly 70 countries in the world where everyone in this room, gay or straight , would be arrested just for attending this talk. And in 10 of those countries, those of us who are gay or lesbian would be executed. And every few minutes of every day a transgender person is murdered.,.....All of us have a lot of work to do to ensure that everyone has a safe place to be who they are and find a spiritual home. That may mean taking risks, speaking up to a friend, challenging bullying, confronting bigotry wherever we find it.......
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Sexuality is a gift from God and yet most religious institutions are very sex negative.  This sex negative attitude has led to hatred and violence towards sexual minorities, discriminatory laws, self-hatred and even suicide.......On the one hand you have your sexuality or whatever your uniqueness is and on the other hand you have your spirituality. You don't have to give up one for the other. It's time to take back power over our own spirituality and take back power over our own sexuality and stop letting religious institutions or religious leaders force us to choose one over the other...You can embrace both.....Thank you.
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Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed [[Past Guest Commentary/Opinion Articles | here]].
 
Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed [[Past Guest Commentary/Opinion Articles | here]].
 
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Latest revision as of 12:28, 14 July 2020

PLEASE NOTE: Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed here.

Plains Cree Two Spirit People

By: Edward Lavallee, Elder, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society

'Rainbow' by Canadian First Nation artist Corey Bulpitt

I had just returned after attending the 2002 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education that August at the Stoney Indian Park, at Morley, Alberta when I received a call from Richard Jenkins asking if I would attend the 14th Annual International Two Spirit People Gathering as their Elder. The Alberta group were members of the Aboriginal Two Spirit Working Group of Edmonton. Chief George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory who was one of its members had been successful in bidding to host that year’s International Gathering for Canada.

These International Two Spirit Gathering have been in existence since 1988 and have been hosted by various Aboriginal Two Spirit groups throughout North America and primarily those from Canada and the United States. Two Spirit Individuals and groups in the USA are also credited with getting the movement started influenced by the Gay movement in that country. Generally, the goal of the Gathering is to provide a safe, supportive and alcohol/drug free forum and environment for indigenous Two Spirit peoples from throughout North America to explore and experience their place in Indigenous cultures and communities. A sacred fire is lit at the beginning of each Gathering maintained throughout the week and extinguished at the end to assist in activities related to keeping a spiritual connection to the Creator. Other Activities during the week include pipe ceremonies, sage/sweetgrass ceremonies, sweats, plenary sessions, concurrent workshops, talking circles, support groups, recreation events, mini-pow wow/feast and a traditional give away.

I was at the time, telling everyone, that I was an Elder in training however that week I soon was carrying out full Elder duties and thus ever since then I have been taken as the full Elder with this same Edmonton Two Spirit group. At that time the host committee had 12 members from throughout Alberta representing First Nations, Metis and Urban Aboriginal Two Spirit men, women and youth. Its chair was Chief George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree Nation. The sponsoring organization for the Gathering was the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute of Alberta which had been in existence as not-for- profit entity since 1974. Richard Jenkins, its Director of Marketing and Health promotions applied and received funding in the amount of 45,000 dollars from the Canadian and Provincial governments. The venue for the event was at the Nakoda Lodge at Morley, Alberta.

The event was a huge success. Issues in their plenary sessions discussed pre-contact issues, colonization, residential school impacts and health leadership topics on individual health matters, HIV/AIDs, HIV and community involvement, healing, recovery, sobriety, culture and language retention or loss thereof, alcohol as an escape to dealing with sexuality, homosexuality and the Bible and its interpretations, not feeling safe in home communities, drugs, addictions, STD’s, teen pregnancy, incarcerations, family violence, smoking, racism, experiences at residential schools, intergenerational impacts of Indian residential schools, loss of dignity and self respect and their susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and finally, noting that the Gathering changed their lives. The event ended with a feast, a pow wow (where members from the local community took part) and a traditional give away.

These Gatherings are attended by members of many different Nations throughout North America since their beginning including the diverse Nations of the Cree. It is believed by the Plains Cree Two Spirit (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Trans-sexual, Transgender and Inter-sex) people, similar to many other Two Spirit people in other Indigenous Nations, were regarded as people placed among them for specific purpose by the Creator (God) and therefore were thought to be divine.

Two Spirit is a term some Indigenous people use to identify themselves rather than GLBTTIGG. It was adopted by delegates attending the 3rd annual International Gathering at Manitoba in 1990. Indigenous people believe that both the female and male spirits resides in the body of a Two Spirit individual and the degree of dominance of each spirit ultimately impacts the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual identity of each Two Spirit person. Many Nation people have their own beliefs and have specific names for their Two Spirit people. The Navaho call theirs Nadle, the Dakota-Winkte, The Ojibwa-Agokwa, and The Cree-Esqwaycan and so on.

They were a very important part of Cree society. They had many roles in the daily lives of their people and were respected and revered for being two spirited. They were often healers, shamans, mediators in marriage and tribal disputes, keepers of their history and their lore, and taking part and often leading in their social and Spiritual ceremonies Just like many other Indigenous Nations, Plains Cree people took and lived with same sex partners and this practice was accepted as a norm. Chiefs and their leaders had wives and often had male companions as well if they could support them. This was also the practice of females in some of their nations.

There is still today a ceremonial society called Wihtikancimoowak whose members include Two Spirit people who perform at Sundances (a four day annual Spiritual Gathering). They are known as Spirit Dancers or Contraries doing and saying things backwards as they perform in front of camp dwellings throughout the entire encampment and sometimes even are invited to dance in the main Sundance Lodge. At these times everyone must not look upon them as they are considered sacred spirits.

The belief that Cree Two Spirit people are special is epitomized in the existence of a powerful Two Spirit, Spirit, known as Qweskicanskew in their spirituality, who they believe, turns things around for the good and well-being of humanity and for all things on Earth. This important Deity is called upon in prayers for help, protection and blessings. All members of the Cree Nation who practiced Aboriginal Spirituality used to pray to this Spirit: however due to the negative influence of Christianity, this Spirit has almost been forgotten. This fact may be reversed in the future as Indigenous people are reminded about this important Deity in their Spirituality. Two Spirit songs are still known and sung today.

Today Plains Cree Two Spirit people who are often marginalized in modern day society can be found in all walks of life. They are educators, professional government civil servants, Chiefs and other politicians, writers and actors, and generally are a part of their communities on reserves and in most cases in urban centres across Canada. They are emerging from their long decades of oppression and most of all becoming decolonized working towards re-establishing their rightful roles in their communities as they go through their period of rediscovery. They are working to be recognized, respected and engaged within indigenous communities and in society in general.

In some places, mostly in urban centres, they have created their own organizations to assist in this modern day movement towards self- development and recognition with the assistance of the technological age. They are sponsoring forums and gatherings to promote healing and to create healthy environments. As a result they are being heard in small instances at present but as their movement becomes stronger they hope they will gain and retain their lost and rightful roles.

About our group in Edmonton, in 2003, when we were still known as the Aboriginal Two Spirit Working Group, we were affiliated and worked with the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton. Working again with the Nechi Institute we co-hosted the first Canadian Forum on Two Spirit Peoples and Health. That forum brought together eighty-two participants from various regions of Canada to discuss HIV-AIDS and other health issues facing Two Spirit people. Two key areas examined were those involving Corrections and Addictions. Other concerns, such as human rights, mental health, youth concerns and societal views on homosexuality were discussed. Again the Nechi Institute played a pivotal role in administering the secured dollars resulting in a successful event. A full report of the forum is available but not on line. Also a video of the event was made and produced and is available on U-tube. In 2003 the group incorporated as the Two Spirit Circle of Edmonton Society. It co-hosted, with the Nechi Institute again, a Two Spirit Gathering with Alberta Elders to learn teachings on the Protocols of the different uses of Tobacco in the various Aboriginal ceremonies as practiced by Cree people on the Plains. It had been decided that their Two Spirit members should know these teachings as part of their education on Two Spirit Practices.

Members of the Society had long realized that they must learn as much about their culture that they did not know if they were to begin and attempt to carry out their roles as Two Spirit people. Many did not know the ceremonies now practiced by their people, even those members that came from their reserve communities. Much of that part of their culture had long been lost as a result of the destructive influence of the State and Church in their lives since contact and more especially of the roles of Two Spirit people which were practically obliterated throughout the Americas.

In 2004 the Leaders of Two Spirit Circle of Edmonton Society decided they must begin teaching its members about their Culture with the help of Aboriginal Elders and with education resources known to exit about their culture. For four years they held week long Two Spirit Tipi Gatherings at the Nechi cultural grounds in St. Albert, Alberta. Both Female and Male Elders were hired to conduct known teachings on the ceremonial practices that take place during the different seasons, known Aboriginal health medicines and their uses and some ceremonial songs. They were taught how to conduct naming and transfer ceremonies. Elder Leonard Saddleback of Maskwacis was one of their main supporters since its beginning and gave them credit as a cultural emerging group on the international scene when he travelled with them to a Two Spirit Gathering to Tulsa Oklahoma, to assist in conducting spiritual ceremonies at that Gathering. He also gave the Society Three ceremonial Pipes so the Society could start conducting their own pipe ceremonies.

Since then the Society has presented at Aboriginal Education conferences and to Schools in Alberta about Two Spirit people and their issues. They have written and helped produce a resource booklet with the Alberta Teachers Association to assist in the care and understanding of Two Spirit Youth in the schools in Alberta.

So the work of the Cree and other Indigenous Two Spirit people is being carried out as a testament of their desired goal of attaining their roles of the past as much as they can.


Edward Lavallee is a traditional Plains Nehiyaw (Cree) of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Saskatchewan and has worked as co-editor of the Native People newspaper, published by the former Alberta Native Communication Society, now the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta. He has studied Aboriginal history, spirituality and philosophy with elders during a five- year stint at the Indian Cultural College, now affiliated with the First Nations University of Saskatchewan. He has worked with Aboriginal organizations across Canada and for federal and provincial governments in various management positions. Presently he volunteers as an Indigenous Advisor and Elder in Edmonton and sits on the Board of Directors of several Edmonton organizations.

See Also


Past Guest Commentary/Opinion articles can be viewed here.