#twospiritpride

[n8tive-schizo]

Two-spirit is not the native version of being Non-binary.

[madeinchinaassembledinuk]

This particular Two Spirit Pride flag was designed by 2Sanon in 2016. The two feathers represent woman and man, and the circle represents unity in one. It's usually put over the general pride flag but it can also be put on the #transgender or #nonbinary flags. Two Spirit (also known as Two-Spirit or twospirited) is a modern, pan-Indian umbrella term used by some indigenous North Americans to describe Native people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third gender or other gender variant ceremonial and social role in their cultures - it shouldn't be used interchangeably with "LGBT Native American" or "Gay Indian" as the title isn't a modern, self-chosen term of personal gender and/or sexual identity, but is a sacred, spiritual, and ceremonial role that is recognised and confirmed by the Elders of the Two Spirit's ceremonial community. The term #twospirit was created in 1990 at the Indigenous lesbian and gay international gathering in Winnipeg and was "specifically chosen to distinguish and distance Native American/First Nations people from non-Native peoples." The primary purpose of the new term was to encourage the replacement of the outdated and offensive anthropological term "berdache". The information given has been researched to the best of my ability but if anything is incorrect, please let me know and I will correct it. Thank you 💖 #pride #pridemonth #prideeveryday #twospiritpride #nativeamerican #firstnations #indigenous #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqiaplus https://www.instagram.com/p/CQuIRo8LB12/?utm_medium=tumblr

[brownandtrans]

Riva/ 28/ two-spirit/ nonbinary lesbian

[elvenarcher]

#squad #sfpride #pride2017 #twospiritpride #twospirit #queer #homosexual #gay #bisexual #pansexual #genderfluid #genderqueer #nonbinary

[queerkwe]

✨ New Ace Pride Earrings ✨ Hey y’all! I’ve got some new asexual and Two Spirit Pride beaded earrings available on my Etsy! $25-$45. Link in bio. I included a picture of the earrings with the sunlight and without so you could see them shine 🤩 Sending love to all of you asexual cuties! 🥰 ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 #twospirit #twospiritpride #twospiritartist #indigiqueer #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia #ace #asexual #asexualpride #beadwork #beadedearrings #beadworkforsale #beadersofinstagram #inspirednatives #fringeearrings (at Crooked Lake, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFcP0Ilqmi/?igshid=1wnxndmovjh5l

[queerkwe]

Hey y’all! I posted a while back about starting a Two Spirit and LGBTQ Pride beadwork business. I received a lot of support with my first post, but I forgot to keep posting updates on my tumblr! I have a facebook page (queerkwe designs), I’ve been posting more work on my instagram (@queerkwe), and I have opened up a shop on etsy (queerkwe) to sell my beadwork until I have the resources to secure my own site. The purpose of this work is to create representation for Two Spirit and LGBTQ Indigenous folks in Native spaces. Identity is complicated for queer Native folks and it can often feel isolating as fuck. There is a lot of homophobia and transphobia in our communities as a result of colonization and assimilation efforts (boarding schools, compulsory Christianity, etc.). It’s important to remember that our cultures traditionally embraced two spirit folks and there are community members that still hold these values. This project is about reclaiming that space and reminding our communities of our traditional ways while creating a more inclusive and supportive environment. This work is important to me because my path to feeling secure in all of my identities was not an easy one. I had to deconstruct, and more importantly decolonize, a lot of ideas that I held about self, gender, sexuality, and community. I was fortunate that I was able to go away to college and find an amazing support system that allowed me space to grow and accept all parts of myself. This is not the case for so many queer Native folks out there who don’t have the opportunity or resources to find these queer friendly environments. Even those that do find these spaces, they can be very white and it can feel like you have to put aside your native identity. This beadwork is for all of those queer Native folks out there who have felt like they had to be any less than 100% their authentic self. The queer native bbs escaping to tumblr to find any resemblance of a community or support system. Those questioning if their communities, families, and ancestors would still love them if they new the truth. Those gender non-conforming natives who feel as though they need to change themselves when they go home to their Rez to fit into our (now) rigid ideas of what it means to be a native man or woman. I’m here to tell y’all that you are so beautiful and valid. I’m so sorry that some of our communities have lost their ways and now you don’t feel like you belong. Because the truth is, that you have always belonged. I know it and our ancestors know it. They are watching down on you, protecting you, and providing you with the strength you need to survive in this harsh, western world we now live in. Beadwork has been an amazing medicine for me in ways I never would have imagined. It’s allowed me to ground myself and begin to address the storm of trauma I was holding inside. This past year, I’ve been exploring the relationship between my mind, body, emotions, and spirit through both traditional practices and western therapy. Addressing my PTSD and allowing myself to validate the spiritual things that were happening within myself is a continuous struggle but beadwork has served as a healing tool in nearly all aspects of my life. It’s been really hard to keep a job while working through this trauma and that is why I am hoping to do beadwork full time. I could use any support y’all have to offer. Buy some earrings, send beading supplies, send money to help with food/ living costs/ supplies! I have linked my Venmo/paypal at the end of the post. Follow me on instagram, Facebook, and etsy! Share and like my posts! Thanks for your support! Becca Queerkwe Venmo: @rebecca-Lynn PayPal: paypal.me/reblynn CashApp: $reblynn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queerkwedesigns/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerkwe Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/queerkwe

[queerkwe]

Where are my Asexual Natives at?! These are for you! Y’all are beautiful and valid. I’m sorry if anyone has ever made you feel differently. You’re a valued part of our communities. Sending all of my Ace babes love and support today! . . . #nativemade #supportindigenousartists #indigenousart #beadwork #beadedearrings #twospirit #asexual #asexualpride #lgbtart #lgbtartist #lgbt #lgbtq🌈 #twospiritpride #anishinaabe #anishinaabekwe #lgbtpride #ndn #qtpoc (at Ann Arbor, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuzOwhGlmr5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x9xn97kqircd

[queerkwe]

“I still remember the knot in my stomach when I came out to my mom 6 years ago. At the time, I made a lot of assumptions about how she felt about me being queer. I had no idea that this moment of honesty would lead to a livelong friendship with my mother. Don't get me wrong, there was an adjustment period for both of us. It was a year or so before we could even talk about it aloud. Comfort zones were tested the first time I brought a girlfriend home from college. But through this uncomfortable transition, blossomed an honest, open, and downright wholesome relationship between my mom and I. She has taught me what it means to be an Anishinaabe woman and I take those teachings with me as I figure out what this #TwoSpirit identity means to me. Her wisdom, power, and artistry continue to inspire me to do better, to be better 

With all of this being said, I am happy to announce that my mom, Vicki Lynn, is my first artist collaboration!! We've been making artwork together all summer long and it has been an amazing experience. We push each other's artistic and competitive sides every day. 18 year old me could have never imagined my mom and I working together to create LGBTQ and Two Spirit pride artwork. She has made a traditional, hand-woven 50 inch pride belt ($95) and two beautiful cedar rimmed pride dream catchers ($35/$45). Message me if you are interested in any of the items.”

YALLLL I’m sharing this post from my beadwork shop page (facebook: queerkwedesigns) on tumblr because I never thought this day would be here and I need to talk about it. I wanted to keep my business post short but I know y’all live for this gay shit. 

First let me explain something about my mom and I. We didn’t have a close relationship growing up. There weren’t as many hugs or “I love you”s or comforting touches as I would have liked, but now I realize she was doing the best she knew how. You see, my nokomis (grandmother) was in a Native boarding school and she saw a lot of abuse and neglect as a kiddo at the Holy Childhood School of Jesus (ironic, right?). My mom was conceived when my white, alcoholic grandfather wanted to piss off his religious parents by fucking around with dirty little Indian girls. It was a truly fitting 1950′s love story. My mom was the oldest of 4 and she helped raise my aunts and uncle when my grandpa split. My nokomis was such a strong, beautiful Anishinaabekwe who ended up being a tribal judge in her final years, but in many ways she was emotionally absent because of her childhood traumas. She did what she knew how, which was to keep them fed, clothed, and get them through high school graduation. Despite all of her hardships, she was able to do that-which is amazing! Then it was my mom’s turn to be a parent and she tried her hardest to break some of cycles and combat that historical trauma ingrained within us. She fed us, clothed us, and got us through high school. She even hugged us a little more, learned how to say “I love you”, and tried to be there in the ways she knew how. 

I can talk about all of this now, but I didn’t understand it as a poor, closeted gay kid who grew up in a town of 700 people and wanted nothing more than to get out and never look back. It wasn’t until I went away to college and learned about boarding schools, historical trauma, and understood the ways that structural inequalities shaped the lives of those in my family and community. Instead of being upset with my mom for the lack of support, I grew proud of the woman she became despite everything thrown her way. It’s been a rough path to this point though. She was the last person in my immediate family that I came out to because I was terrified of being rejected and losing her. It wasn’t ideal and there was definitely an adjustment period for both of us, but it ultimately forced us to talk about emotions in a way that we had never been able to before. 

Flash forward to this summer, where we have been creating together and helping each other grow emotionally, spiritually, and artistically. I’ve been helping her see herself as the strong, amazing lady she is and she’s been helping me stay grounded and remember where I come from- a long line of bad ass, indigenous kwe who get shit done. I’m planning on applying to grad schools in the fall and I’m not sure where I’ll end up, so this time with her and my family has been so important. This is the longest amount of time I have been home since I left for college after high school. This place used to bring me back to that closeted, emotionally blocked, self hating baby gay, but now fills me with warmth in a way I never expected. I had to leave to understand myself. I had to go and be around the queer community to witness that being an openly LGBTQ individual was really an option. Now that I have, I need to return and feed my indigenous spirit. In one way, things are coming full circle as I embrace this two spirit identity which incorporates both my queerness and my culture. In another way, I’m feeling more lost than ever as I try to understand what it means to be a two spirit person in this society. Having my mom by my side for support and guidance along the way is an amazing feeling. I can’t wait to see how relationship grow and strengthen.

Thanks for reading! Like/Reblog so hopefully some other LGBTQ Natives get ahold of this story and know that things do get better. There are ways to bring your identities together. It’s by no means easy, but it beats having them conflict for attention and emotional energy. Our ancestors would have embraced you into their arms and hopefully one day our communities will remember our traditional ways of acceptance. In the mean time, you are valid, you are loved, and you are so fucking important.

Message me if you’re interested in any of the beadwork/ dreamcatchers/ belts shown. Prices and more beadwork can be found at my facebook shop @queerkwedesigns. If you don’t have access to facebook, message me on here. Follow me on Instagram @queerkwe. My beadwork is for everyone, all I ask is that you’re an ally to queer and indigenous folx. If you want to/are able to donate to me, project supplies, or sponsor a two spirit/ lgbtq indigenous person who otherwise could not afford this pride jewelry here are my online accounts. Message me about collaborations/questions/comments! Email- [email protected]

Paypal: paypal.me/reblynn

Venmo: @rebecca-lynn 

CashApp: $reblynn