Niish Manidoowag (Two-Spirited Beings)

Difficult Content

Transcript

Would you guys like to hear my little my little poem? Thank you for your enthusiastic.
OK, I’m gonna die.
OK, My no ****. A friend poem by me. OK, it goes like this.
Sometimes I feel like you hate me. I’m scared to look in your eyes. I don’t know what to do around you, but I try to be kind. My words don’t make sense and I can’t speak my mind without tripping over sounds. But God do I try. My brain makes me sad when we hang out. I don’t know how to continue conversations or they’re talking about myself? I’m selfish and ugly and I really want to die. Hope you like me as much as I like you because I can’t write poems and I’m going to cry.
I like that poem.
Thanks kids.
So like, at the beginning of every semester I get Gil to write a letter from me to all my teachers because I am a very big baby and too scared to talk to them myself. And it’s just like, hey, the student who is like written as this name on the attendance sheet is actually a boy and is called Gray. And they usually just like, don’t listen to that. And then I have to get her to talk to them again. So usually on my report cards, it’s like Gray does this and he is cool or it’s like Gray does this in Gray it’s cool or it’s like Greg does this and she is cool.
So it’s just a mix. Like you could be either he, they, no he, no pronouns or she. So just living my life, doing what I want.
Well I almost just fell in the water.

You know what I think about this log?
Why did you do that?
That hurts so much!
Ok, I have to go to the bathroom.
Wow.
Lately this week, they’ve been, like, locking the doors to the staff bathroom. I remember there’s a time when it was, like, broken for like a week.
The toilet.
Yeah, it sucked. And then the janitor was always outside and he’d be like, it’s closed. I’m like, OK, I just went home. I was so sad.
In Toronto, a lot of, like, bathrooms are gender neutral. Like, I went to, like, this vegan dessert place. They had two bathrooms and there’s bathrooms. It was cool.
It wasn’t specific?
Yeah, that’s cool.
Anyone want to go for a swim? I actually really want to.
I want to, like, just step in there, but I don’t want to touch, like, the leaves on the ground.
Hi, David. Hey, where’s Julie?
She went to bingo. She has a bingo sponsor.
I don’t want to sit here, Guys. I’m sorry. I just didn’t feel right in my heart.
Are you comfortable?
Yeah.
I’m having a graduation party on the 30th.
Really?
Yeah.
Today we took grad photos and I had to wear like a graduation gown, Gendered graduation gowns. We have gendered clothing for the culture.

Skirts make me uncomfortable.
Yeah, I don’t like skirts either.

Well, if you ever want to go to a sweat lodge, you got to wear one.
Apparently, so do I. This one guy who was running a sweat lodge, he was sort of. I ended up asking him like, before everything happened, like, do I have to actually go like wear a skirt? Because that was when I was like newly came out, like newly transitioned. I’m like, yeah, I am David now. He was kind of like, well, God made you a woman, so you can be a guy anywhere else you want except in the sweat lodge.
You got to wear a skirt when you’re inside the sweat lodge or for, like, any ceremonial practice. Anyway, yeah, he gave me the option of, like, sitting outside or actually just, like, manning up and putting on the skirt. I sat outside because when you think about it, there’s a lot of our culture.
We’re missing this point. When I went for my fast, my elder, her name is Gloria. She was just like, like, there are ladies like, shouldn’t the shouldn’t that kid be coming with us and wearing a skirt? But Gloria was like, Gray knows where he goes. Gray knows where he goes. So I went and sat with the guys and that was nice. Like, if you knew in your heart that you were like something other than what you were born as. The culture didn’t really mind that. Like you were just you.
Like, if you know that you’re actually a guy, why would your spirit not be who you truly are?
I don’t know, because he was just thinking about junks.
Your spirit exists in your private parts.

Transcript

Would you guys like to hear my little my little poem? Thank you for your enthusiastic.
OK, I’m gonna die.
OK, My no ****. A friend poem by me. OK, it goes like this.
Sometimes I feel like you hate me. I’m scared to look in your eyes. I don’t know what to do around you, but I try to be kind. My words don’t make sense and I can’t speak my mind without tripping over sounds. But God do I try. My brain makes me sad when we hang out. I don’t know how to continue conversations or they’re talking about myself? I’m selfish and ugly and I really want to die. Hope you like me as much as I like you because I can’t write poems and I’m going to cry.
I like that poem.
Thanks kids.
So like, at the beginning of every semester I get Gil to write a letter from me to all my teachers because I am a very big baby and too scared to talk to them myself. And it’s just like, hey, the student who is like written as this name on the attendance sheet is actually a boy and is called Gray. And they usually just like, don’t listen to that. And then I have to get her to talk to them again. So usually on my report cards, it’s like Gray does this and he is cool or it’s like Gray does this in Gray it’s cool or it’s like Greg does this and she is cool.
So it’s just a mix. Like you could be either he, they, no he, no pronouns or she. So just living my life, doing what I want.
Well I almost just fell in the water.

You know what I think about this log?
Why did you do that?
That hurts so much!
Ok, I have to go to the bathroom.
Wow.
Lately this week, they’ve been, like, locking the doors to the staff bathroom. I remember there’s a time when it was, like, broken for like a week.
The toilet.
Yeah, it sucked. And then the janitor was always outside and he’d be like, it’s closed. I’m like, OK, I just went home. I was so sad.
In Toronto, a lot of, like, bathrooms are gender neutral. Like, I went to, like, this vegan dessert place. They had two bathrooms and there’s bathrooms. It was cool.
It wasn’t specific?
Yeah, that’s cool.
Anyone want to go for a swim? I actually really want to.
I want to, like, just step in there, but I don’t want to touch, like, the leaves on the ground.
Hi, David. Hey, where’s Julie?
She went to bingo. She has a bingo sponsor.
I don’t want to sit here, Guys. I’m sorry. I just didn’t feel right in my heart.
Are you comfortable?
Yeah.
I’m having a graduation party on the 30th.
Really?
Yeah.
Today we took grad photos and I had to wear like a graduation gown, Gendered graduation gowns. We have gendered clothing for the culture.

Skirts make me uncomfortable.
Yeah, I don’t like skirts either.

Well, if you ever want to go to a sweat lodge, you got to wear one.
Apparently, so do I. This one guy who was running a sweat lodge, he was sort of. I ended up asking him like, before everything happened, like, do I have to actually go like wear a skirt? Because that was when I was like newly came out, like newly transitioned. I’m like, yeah, I am David now. He was kind of like, well, God made you a woman, so you can be a guy anywhere else you want except in the sweat lodge.
You got to wear a skirt when you’re inside the sweat lodge or for, like, any ceremonial practice. Anyway, yeah, he gave me the option of, like, sitting outside or actually just, like, manning up and putting on the skirt. I sat outside because when you think about it, there’s a lot of our culture.
We’re missing this point. When I went for my fast, my elder, her name is Gloria. She was just like, like, there are ladies like, shouldn’t the shouldn’t that kid be coming with us and wearing a skirt? But Gloria was like, Gray knows where he goes. Gray knows where he goes. So I went and sat with the guys and that was nice. Like, if you knew in your heart that you were like something other than what you were born as. The culture didn’t really mind that. Like you were just you.
Like, if you know that you’re actually a guy, why would your spirit not be who you truly are?
I don’t know, because he was just thinking about junks.
Your spirit exists in your private parts.

Image

Video

Audio

Activities

Think

Do

How do the spaces where you interact (school, community groups, sports teams, etc.) encourage a sense of belonging and inclusion? Why is it important for these spaces to be inclusive? What are some barriers to inclusion?

Read the in-depth explanation section of this video, and write a definition in your own words of two-spirit people.

Think

How do the spaces where you interact (school, community groups, sports teams, etc.) encourage a sense of belonging and inclusion? Why is it important for these spaces to be inclusive? What are some barriers to inclusion?

Do

Read the in-depth explanation section of this video, and write a definition in your own words of two-spirit people.

Details

Date 2017

Object Origin Central

Materials

Film

INSTITUTION Wapikoni Mobile

Credit / Object Number Wapikoni Mobile; The Canadian Museum of History thanks La Boîte Rouge VIF for producing the French and Ojibway version of the film.

Artist / Maker / Manufacturer Debbie Mishibinijima

Historical Context

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This is a short documentary film by Anishinaabe filmmaker Debbie Mishibinijima (she/her/hers). It features a conversation between five youth from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
Two-spirit youth Grey (he/him/his) and David (they/them/their) discuss the challenges they face in relation to a gender-binary model.
The term “two-spirit” is a contemporary description of Indigenous gender, sexual and spiritual diversity.
Not all Indigenous Peoples whose gender and sexual orientations are different from a binary model identify as two-spirit.
While talking about their experiences within their community, Grey notes the lack of gender-neutral washrooms at their school. David describes being asked to wear a skirt for sweat lodge ceremonies.
Sharing these stories is one way of gaining support and recognition within the community, while continuing to challenge gender roles.
A special thank you to Debbie Mishibinijima for her role in translating this film from Ojibwe.

Advisory: This video clip contains discussions about mental health, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one needs support, please reach out to Kids Help Phone.

This is a short documentary film by Anishinaabe filmmaker Debbie Mishibinijima (she/her/hers). It features a conversation between five youth from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. In particular, two-spirit youth Grey (he/him/his) and David (they/them/their) discuss the challenges they face at school, and within their community, when a gender-binary identity is imposed upon them.

The term “two-spirit” is a contemporary description of Indigenous gender, sexual and spiritual diversity. Coined in 1990 by Indigenous LGBTQ leaders at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg, the term draws upon Indigenous histories of gender expression and sexuality before European contact.

“Two-spirit” is used by Indigenous peoples to express their identities in relationship to community and spirituality. It is important to note that not all Indigenous Peoples whose gender and sexual orientations are different from a binary model identify as two-spirit. Individual terms for these community members can vary from nation to nation.

When talking about their experiences within their community, Grey, for example, discusses the lack of gender-neutral washrooms at their school and how they must wait for a staff washroom to be available. David describes being asked to wear a skirt for sweat lodge ceremonies, and the lack of compromise around the issue of skirts in ceremonies.

The role of two-spirit people is being reclaimed today, recognizing that discrimination against gender or sexually diverse people contradicts fundamental Indigenous values of kinship and relationality. As noted by Grey and David in the film, there are still challenges related to acknowledging and accepting two-spirit people within Indigenous communities today. Sharing these stories is one way of gaining support and recognition within the community, while continuing to challenge gender roles.

A special thank you to Debbie Mishibinijima for her role i translating this film from Ojibwe.

Advisory: This video clip contains discussions about mental health, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one needs support, please reach out to Kids Help Phone.

This is a short documentary film by Anishinaabe filmmaker Debbie Mishibinijima (she/her/hers). It features a conversation between five youth from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
Two-spirit youth Grey (he/him/his) and David (they/them/their) discuss the challenges they face in relation to a gender-binary model.
The term “two-spirit” is a contemporary description of Indigenous gender, sexual and spiritual diversity.
Not all Indigenous Peoples whose gender and sexual orientations are different from a binary model identify as two-spirit.
While talking about their experiences within their community, Grey notes the lack of gender-neutral washrooms at their school. David describes being asked to wear a skirt for sweat lodge ceremonies.
Sharing these stories is one way of gaining support and recognition within the community, while continuing to challenge gender roles.
A special thank you to Debbie Mishibinijima for her role in translating this film from Ojibwe.