Two-Spirit

What it means

Two-Spirit is a cultural, spiritual and community identity used by some Indigenous people in North America. It can encompass gender, sexuality and traditional roles, and its meaning differs between nations — many nations have their own words in their own languages. It isn't simply an Indigenous synonym for gay or trans.

Where the term comes from

The term was adopted at the third annual intertribal Native American and First Nations gay and lesbian gathering in Winnipeg in 1990, as a translation of the Anishinaabemowin 'niizh manidoowag'. It was meant to replace outsider terms imposed by colonisers.

How it can look in real life

• A Cree person who uses Two-Spirit to connect their identity to their community and ceremony.
• An Indigenous person who uses both Two-Spirit and gay, in different contexts.
• Someone who uses their nation's own word rather than the pan-Indigenous term.

These are examples, not requirements. People who use the same word can have very different histories, relationships and preferences — and nobody needs a particular amount of experience to know what fits.

Common myths

• Anyone can call themselves Two-Spirit — it belongs to Indigenous people and should not be adopted by non-Indigenous people.
• It means the same thing across all nations — roles and meanings vary.

Talking about it with a partner

If a partner is Two-Spirit, let them explain what it means for them and their community. Learn from Indigenous-led sources rather than generalising.

It helps to talk about specifics — what closeness, touch, exclusivity and privacy mean to each of you — rather than expecting a label to answer those questions. Either person can decide something isn't right for them, and nobody owes intimacy to keep a relationship going.

Sexual-health notes

• Indigenous LGBTQ+ people face compounded barriers to care; culturally safe, Indigenous-led services can help.
• Screening should follow the organs a person has — for example, cervical screening for anyone with a cervix, prostate checks for anyone with a prostate — regardless of gender.

Health advice should follow your body and the activities you actually do, not a label. A clinician can help with testing, vaccines and barriers — and you deserve care that doesn't judge.