Those with Two Spirits

Artwork for the 2009 film, Two Spirits. From the filmmakers: “Two Spirits explores the life and death of this boy [Fred Martinez] who was also a girl, and the essentially spiritual nature of gender. Two Spirits tells compelling stories about traditions that were once widespread among the indigenous cultures of North America. The film explores the contemporary lives and history of Native two-spirit people — who combine the traits of both men and women with qualities that are also unique to individuals who express multiple genders.

In 1534, De Vaca made the following observation along the Texas coast: During the time I was among them I saw something very repulsive, namely, a man married to another. Such are impotent and womanish beings, who dress like women and perform the office of women, but use the bow and carry big loads.

In 1540, Alarcón reported from the Colorado River, There were among these Indians three or four men in women’s apparel. A few months later, Coronado’s expedition noted a tribe with sodomites.

The people of North America, however, see things differently, sometimes referring to such individuals as having two spirits, one male and one female. Among many tribes they are afforded special roles— healers and medicine men (or women), storytellers, match-makers, healers during battle, and providers of supernatural powers, insight, or good luck. They name babies and perform special roles at ceremonies.

They are the haxu’xan of the Arapaho, the aayahkwew of the Plains Cree, the winkte of the Lakota, the bate of the Crow, and the joya in California. Perhaps none are held in higher esteem than the nádleehi of the Diné, who are said to be the first children of First Man and First Woman, uniquely able to mediate between the two, and thus sacred and holy.

1837 painting by George Catlin showing Sac and Faux warriors honoring a man dressed as a woman.

References

Elsasser, A.B., 1979. Explorations of Hernando Alarcon in the Lower Colorado River Region, 1540. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 1(1): 8-37.

Grahn, J. 1986. Strange Country This: Lesbianism and North American Tribes. Journal of Homosexuality 12(3-4): 43-57.

Lang, S. 1998. Men as Women, Women as Men: Changing Gender in Native American Cultures. Univ. of Texas Press.

Miranda, D.A., (Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation, Chumash) (2010). Extermination of the Joyas: Gendercide in Spanish California. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies 16(1), 253-284.

Navoti, D.A. 2016. Then and Now: 7 Amazing Two Spirit, LGBTQ Natives You Should Know. Indian Country Today Media Network. June 6, 2016.

Smithers, G.D. 2023. Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America. Beacon Press.