Two-Spirit is a term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex understandings of gender, sexuality, spirituality and social roles within various Indigenous cultures. The terms and roles of Two-Spirit people are specific to each Nation.
Colonization brought strict ideas about gender and gender roles. For some Indigenous people, this has interrupted our knowing that gender diversity has a long history that predates the arrival of settlers from other parts of the world.
Part of reconciliation is to learn, remember and respect Indigenous gender diversity. This respect should be extended to all gender diverse people, no matter their culture.
We know that gender diversity exists around the world and throughout history.
When we see gender diverse people existing all over the world, it helps us understand that gender diversity has a rich history in many different cultures.
Trans and non-binary people exist in societies across the globe — and they often serve important roles in their communities and cultures. These histories are present on every continent, and in some cases, records of trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary people date back millennia.
The histories of trans and non-binary people across cultures continue to be discovered and understood in new ways. Though some terms we now use to refer to gender diversity are relatively new, these identities and experiences are not.