Two- spirit holds a special place in community

Eventually, more family started to find out. The maternal side of my family, my brother and even my 70- year- old Catholic grandmother, were extremely open to my sexuality. They embraced me and bought me rainbow trinkets to show their acceptance. I also introduced them to the topic of two- spirit and we had discussions about fluidity in gender and sexuality from a traditional aspect. It was then that I realized that by embracing a two- spirit person, my family was actually honouring our traditions all along.

The paternal side of my family, however, started to reject me, a true indication that the effects of residential schools continue to be present in our community. This rejection con- tributed to my serious depression.

I eventually sought the support of a traditional healer to re- connect with my culture in a dark time. He taught me a lot about the history of two- spirit people and made me realize that I held a special place in the community as a two- spirit and especially as a womyn. He put me in contact with other two- spirit womyn. Through them, I also learned what it meant to have this special gift.

For once, I felt embraced for truly who I was: being queer, a womyn and aboriginal. They taught me that being two- spirit is the inherent relationship between sexuality, gender and cultural identity. This is when I started to identify as two- spirit. This was the moment I started to honour our history.

I have realized that “gay pride” and “native pride” can coexist. Being two- spirit empowers me to take agency over my body, my sexuality, my gender and my culture.

My name is Gina Metallic, and my identity is an act of resistance.