Artifact #9: Historical accounts of Two-Spirits (2009)
Two-Spirits are Native American people, who possess both male and female characteristics. Many modern Two-Spirits also identify as trans, but the two terms are not interchangeable. These unique individuals are culturally revered, and many become powerful leaders of their communities. This artifact is important because it represents the presence of the massive Native American community in Minnesota and St. Paul. Minnesota is home to many Domestic Dependent Nations, so I wanted to find an intersection of LGBTQA+ and Native American culture. The article above was the perfect fit. It describes the Two-Spirit community and how they have evolved since the first Two-Spirit gathering in 1988, which took place in Minneapolis.