TWO-SPIRIT Definition & Meaning

two-spirit

Also two spir·it,
Or �շɴ�-��辱��·��

[too-spir-it]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(among some Indigenous North American peoples)
1. a person, especially someone assigned male at birth, who adopts the gender identity, dress, and social roles traditionally assigned to a different gender.
2. a person who adopts some combination of male and female gender identity, dress, and social roles, or who identifies as gay, lesbian, transgender, etc.
3. any of numerous culturally distinct genders apart from male and female.

adjective

being or relating to a person who is a two-spirit.

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

two-spirited adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of two-spirit¹

Coined in 1990 by Cree educator Myra Laramee at the third annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference; coined concurrently with Ojibwe niizh manidoowag “two spirits,” from niizh “two” + manidoo “spirit” ( manitou ( def. ) ) + -wag, plural suffix

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In some Indigenous cultures, people who embody both male and female spirits have been identifying as “two-spirit” for thousands of years.

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That activity invites young people to create art and explore the rich legacies and local histories of Black trans women, Black gender diverse individuals, and Queer Indigenous or Two-Spirit people.

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“There are not a lot of stories focused on trans masculine people, let alone trans masculine people who are Indigenous. I wanted to be able to provide that,” said Two Feathers, who also identifies as “two-spirit,” a term for the various nonbinary identities that have existed in many Indigenous cultures since long before colonization.

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“There is a lot of double erasure of two-spirit identities, Native American identities and Native American women,” McEver said.

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The gathering honored the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals.

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When To Use

What does two-spirit mean?

Two-spirit is a third gender found in some Native American cultures, often involving birth-assigned men or women taking on the identities and roles of the opposite sex. A sacred and historical identity, two-spirit can include but is by no means limited to LGBTQ identities.

two-speed two-spot

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