You’ve probably seen the letters "TS" popping up at the start of the LGBTQ+ acronym lately. It's often tucked in right at the beginning—2SLGBTQIA+. If you’ve ever stopped to wonder what does two spirit mean in a way that goes beyond a dictionary definition, you aren't alone. It’s a term that feels modern but is actually anchored in something ancient.
But here is the thing.
It isn't just a synonym for being queer. It’s not "Native American for gay." If you call a non-Indigenous person "Two Spirit," you’re actually making a bit of a linguistic mistake. It is a term specifically reclaimed by and for Indigenous North Americans. It’s about a spiritual identity that is tied to the land, the community, and a history that colonial powers tried very hard to erase.
The 1990 Turning Point in Winnipeg
To understand the term, we have to look at 1990. Before that, the anthropological world used a pretty offensive word to describe Indigenous people who didn't fit into the "man/woman" binary: berdache. It’s a French term with some nasty roots involving exploitation.
Native people hated it. Obviously.
During the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American/First Nations Gay and Lesbian Conference in Winnipeg, activists like Myra Laramee pushed for a change. They wanted a term that reflected their own cultures rather than European observations. They landed on "Two Spirit," which is a translation of the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) phrase niizh manidoowag.
It was a political act of reclamation. They weren't just picking a new name; they were building a bridge back to their ancestors.
It Is About Roles, Not Just Who You Date
In Western culture, we tend to obsess over who someone is attracted to. That’s the "Sexual Orientation" bucket. Then we have the "Gender Identity" bucket. For many Indigenous nations, two spirit meanings are much broader. It’s about a "third gender" or "fourth gender" role that involves specific responsibilities within the tribe.
Historically, these individuals were often seen as bridge-builders. They could see the world through both male and female lenses. This wasn't a defect; it was a gift.
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In many communities, Two Spirit people were:
- Medics and healers.
- Matchmakers and marriage counselors.
- Keepers of oral traditions and names.
- Caretakers of orphans.
Think about the Diné (Navajo) culture and the nádleeh. These are individuals who "change" or "function" in a state of constant transition. They weren't marginalized. In fact, they were often considered essential for the balance of the community. If you didn't have a nádleeh around, things were arguably out of whack.
The Violent Erasure of Colonialism
We can't talk about what two spirit means without talking about why the term had to be "reclaimed" in the first place. When European settlers arrived, they brought a very rigid, very binary view of gender and sexuality. They saw these Indigenous roles not as sacred, but as "sinful" or "deviant."
The residential school systems in the U.S. and Canada were a massive part of this. They stripped children of their languages and their understandings of gender. They forced boys into haircuts and trousers and girls into dresses and domestic chores.
The result? A lot of this traditional knowledge was pushed underground. In some cases, it was lost entirely. When modern Indigenous people use the term Two Spirit today, they are essentially performing an act of "decolonization." They are saying, "The binary you forced on us isn't ours."
Is it the same as being Transgender?
Kinda, but also no.
While many Two Spirit people might identify as trans or non-binary, the terms aren't interchangeable. A trans person identifies as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. A Two Spirit person is identifying with a specific cultural and spiritual role within an Indigenous context.
If you take the "Indigenous" part out of Two Spirit, the term collapses.
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Dr. Harlan Pruden, a well-known Cree scholar and educator, often talks about how the term is an "umbrella." Underneath that umbrella are hundreds of different tribal-specific terms. The Lakota have the winkté. The Zuni have the lhamana. The Mohave have the alyha. Two Spirit is just the modern English word that lets all these different groups talk to each other and the outside world.
Why "Native Only" Matters
Honesty is important here: there’s a bit of a trend where non-Indigenous people who feel "masculine and feminine" try to use the label.
Indigenous activists are pretty clear on this: please don't.
Using the term when you don't have Indigenous heritage is seen as cultural appropriation. Why? Because the "spirit" part of Two Spirit refers to a specific relationship with Indigenous spirituality and tribal sovereignty. It’s not a personality trait. It’s a citizenship and a heritage.
The Struggle Within the Community
It hasn't been an easy road. Even within Indigenous communities, homophobia and transphobia exist. This is often called "lateral violence." Because of the influence of Christian missions and colonial education, some tribal members grew up believing that being Two Spirit was wrong.
Modern Two Spirit people often have to fight on two fronts. They fight the Western world for recognition of their Indigenous rights, and they sometimes have to fight their own communities to remember the sacred roles their ancestors once held.
It’s exhausting.
But there’s a massive resurgence happening. You see it at Powwows. You see it in the "Two Spirit Longhouse" at pride events. You see it in the art of people like Kent Monkman, whose alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle challenges colonial history through a Two Spirit lens.
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Real-World Impact and Health
This isn't just about labels; it's about survival. Statistics from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center and other groups show that Two Spirit individuals face incredibly high rates of violence and mental health struggles.
When a person understands that two spirit means they have a place in history—that they aren't a "modern invention" but a traditional fixture—it changes their mental health. It provides a sense of belonging that the standard LGBTQ+ community (which is often very white-centric) doesn't always offer.
How to Be a Respectful Ally
If you’re not Indigenous, your job is basically to listen and use the right terminology.
- Use "Two Spirit" only if that is how the person has identified themselves to you.
- Don't assume every Indigenous person who is gay uses the term. Some just prefer "gay" or "queer."
- Understand that "Two Spirit" is a sacred identity, not a trend.
- Support Indigenous-led organizations like the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) or the Two-Spirit Society of Washington DC.
Moving Toward Reclamation
Understanding what two spirit means requires letting go of the idea that there are only two ways to be a human. It requires acknowledging that before Columbus ever stepped foot on this continent, there were complex, beautiful systems of gender that didn't involve "closets" or "coming out."
People just were.
They had a job to do. They had spirits to tend to. They had a community to support.
Actionable Steps for Deepening Your Understanding
If you want to move beyond the surface level, here are a few ways to actually engage with this topic respectfully:
- Seek out Indigenous Authors: Read A Two-Spirit Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby or Black-Indigenous-Two-Spirit by Kai Minosh Pyle. Getting the story from the source is the only way to get it right.
- Watch Indigenous Media: Look for documentaries like Fire Song or the work of filmmaker Thirza Cuthand. They provide a visual context for what these lives look like today.
- Check Your Language: If you catch yourself saying "spirit animal" or "low man on the totem pole," realize that these are bits of linguistic appropriation that go hand-in-hand with the misunderstanding of Two Spirit identities.
- Support Sovereignty: Recognize that the health and safety of Two Spirit people are tied to the land rights and legal sovereignty of their nations. You can't support the person while ignoring the struggle of their tribe.
The term Two Spirit is a bridge. It’s a way for people who were once silenced to say that they are still here, they have always been here, and they have a specific, sacred purpose that no amount of colonization could ever fully erase. Understanding this isn't just about being "politically correct"—it's about acknowledging the full, complicated truth of human history on this continent.
Key Resources for Further Learning
- The Trevor Project: Offers specific resources for 2SLGBTQ Indigenous youth.
- Native North American Case Studies: Look for the work of Dr. Sabine Lang regarding "gender-variant" roles in Native American cultures.
- Tribal Specific Research: Research the nádleeh of the Navajo or the hwame of the Mojave to see how varied these roles actually are across different geographies.
The path to understanding is long, but it starts with realizing that gender is a lot bigger than most of us were taught in school. For Two Spirit people, it’s not just a identity—it’s a homecoming.
To truly honor this identity, remember that it is inseparable from the land and the specific tribal cultures from which it grows. Respecting Two Spirit people means respecting Indigenous sovereignty as a whole. Pay attention to the voices of Indigenous elders and activists who are leading the way in reclaiming these traditions. By centering their experiences and histories, we can move toward a more inclusive and accurate understanding of human diversity. For those seeking to be allies, the most important action is to listen more than you speak and to support Indigenous-led initiatives and organizations. This journey of learning is an ongoing process of unlearning colonial biases and embracing a more expansive view of the world. Through education and genuine respect, we can contribute to a future where all identities are honored and protected. Keep exploring, stay curious, and always approach these sacred traditions with the humility and reverence they deserve.