Colonizations Role on Two-Spirit People

The existence of Two Spirit people challenges the rigid binary view of the world of the North American colonizers and missionaries. The Two Spirits’ mere existence threatened the colonizers' core beliefs; the backlash was violent. Artwork housed at the New York City public library, depict Two Spirit people being attacked by colonizers’ dogs. Word of this brutal treatment spread quickly from nation to nation. The missionary churches' views on sexuality created many new taboos. Many traditions, including that of the Two-spirited were eradicated or at least driven underground from many tribes of North America. Many nations decided to take actions to protect their honored and valued Two Spirit people. Some nations hid them by asking them to replace their dress, a mixture of men and women's clothing, with the attire of their biological sex. After years of colonization, some of those very same nations denied ever having a tradition that celebrated and honored their Two Spirit people. The first step colonizers took toward making an occupied land fit their views was to make the native peoples feel ashamed of their own heritage. 

Since the time of colonization many Native Americans have forgotten the "old" traditions around Two-Spirit people. Many were forced to convert to a Western religion, which did not accept traditional spirituality and community structures. However, there are groups of elders and activists that have quietly kept the Two Spirit tradition alive. In some nations that have revived this tradition, or brought it once again into the light, Two Spirit people are again fulfilling some of the roles and regaining the honor and respect of their communities. Two Spirit people are a part of the fabric of this land, and we stand here today as a testament of our collective strength and fortitude.

The truth is, some of today's Two-spirited people have been shamed, beaten, killed, isolated and driven from their homes.  As a result of the impact of colonization, most Two-spirited people, their families, and the knowledge keepers in their communities today, hold little or no knowledge of the many rich and diverse traditions which recognized, valued and benefited from the special gift these individuals had been given. In consequence, Two-spirited people are not able to take their rightful place in their communities. This is a loss to all Native people.