The term Two-Spirit is increasingly emerging in discussions surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights, Indigenous peoples, and identity issues. It is now included in some acronyms like LGBTQ2S+ or LGBTQ2SIA+, yet its meaning is often misunderstood. Many mistakenly associate it with gender identities similar to being non-binary or transgender. In reality, the Two-Spirit concept has a unique history, cultural significance, and spiritual depth, setting it apart from modern Western categories.
Unlike many terms found in the LGBTQIA+ lexicon, Two-Spirit does not solely denote a sexual orientation or gender identity. It is a term created by and for Indigenous peoples of North America to better depict cultural, social, and spiritual realities that existed long before European colonization.
To gain a deeper understanding of the various identities and gender expressions within the LGBTQIA+ community, you can also explore our article dedicated to our LGBTQ+ glossary.
What is Two-Spirit?
The term Two-Spirit (literally “two spirits”) is used by some Indigenous people in North America to describe an identity that combines cultural, spiritual, social, and sometimes gender or sexual elements.
It’s essential to understand that it is neither simply synonymous with non-binary persons nor a new sexual orientation.
In Western societies, concepts like gender identity and sexual orientation are often presented as distinct. However, among many Indigenous peoples, these elements are integrated into a more holistic view, where community roles, social responsibilities, beliefs, and spirituality are closely connected.
If these concepts are unfamiliar to you, you can explore our guide on gender identity, explaining the differences between sex, gender, gender expression, and identity:
Each Indigenous nation had its own traditions, language, and ways of defining social roles. There wasn’t a single definition that could apply to all Indigenous peoples.
Today, the term Two-Spirit is used as a common label that respects the cultural diversity specific to each nation.
Key takeaway: Two-Spirit is primarily an Indigenous cultural identity, not merely a gender identity or sexual orientation.
A Gender Perspective Different from Western Categories
A common mistake is trying to translate Two-Spirit through modern Western categories.
Today, we generally differentiate between:
- sex;
- gender identity;
- gender expression;
- sexual orientation.
Among many Indigenous communities, these elements were not necessarily separated in this way. A person might hold a particular social role, participate in religious ceremonies, perform specific community functions, or be recognized for spiritual knowledge, without this place being defined as a simple gender identity.
This collective approach makes the Two-Spirit concept challenging to equate with Western categories.
Some draw parallels with non-binary individuals, but this comparison remains incomplete. A non-binary person challenges the binary view of gender, while Two-Spirit also connects to unique histories, cultures, and traditions of Indigenous peoples.
To dive deeper, also read our article on non-binary individuals.
Similarly, some compare Two-Spirit to an agender identity. However, these two concepts address very different realities. To understand more, consult our dedicated guide:
The distinctions between these terms are set out below.
What are the Origins of the Term Two-Spirit?
While its related realities are ancient, the word Two-Spirit is relatively recent.
It wasn’t a term used for centuries by all Indigenous peoples.
The term emerged as a way to provide a common expression to discuss certain Indigenous identities without relying on colonial-era terms or those seen as inappropriate.
Understanding its origin means looking back several centuries before its official creation.
Before European Colonization
Long before Europeans arrived in America, numerous Indigenous nations recognized a diversity of roles linked to gender, spirituality, and social organization.
Unlike European societies of the time, which were largely constructed around a binary division of sexes, several Indigenous peoples recognized people occupying roles that did not align with traditional male or female categories.
Each nation, however, had its own perspective.
Some acknowledged people with significant spiritual roles.
Others assigned responsibilities in traditional medicine, education, religious ceremonies, or conflict mediation.
It is essential to remember there was no single universal conception for what Two-Spirit represents today.
The Impact of Colonization
The arrival of European powers greatly disrupted these traditions.
Assimilation policies, evangelism, residential schools, and the prohibition of many cultural practices led to the gradual disappearance of much traditional knowledge related to these identities.
Social and religious norms imposed by colonizers slowly replaced existing cultural structures.
For several centuries, these realities largely vanished from public view.
Despite this repression, some communities managed to preserve parts of their traditions through oral transmission and by maintaining certain cultural practices.
The Adoption of the English Term in 1990
The term Two-Spirit was adopted in 1990 at an Indigenous LGBTQ+ gathering in Manitoba, outside Winnipeg, Canada.
The aim was to replace certain colonial-era terms with a more respectful expression of Indigenous cultures.
Two-Spirit, Queer, Transgender and Non-Binary: Different Frames
Queer, transgender and non-binary can describe aspects of sexuality or gender, but none is a direct translation of Two-Spirit. Two-Spirit is culturally specific: it connects a person’s identity to Indigenous histories, communities and understandings. An individual may use more than one term, but an outside observer should not decide those labels for them.
Nor should the English words “two spirits” be treated as a universal checklist requiring one male and one female personality. Meanings, language and community roles vary. The Indian Health Service explicitly notes that different Indigenous cultures do not all understand the term in the same way.
Is Two-Spirit a Label for Everyone?
It is a term used by some Indigenous people, rather than a general alternative to non-binary or queer for anyone who wants one. Learning about Two-Spirit histories does not require adopting the identity. Follow the language a person uses and recognise that cultural context cannot be reduced to an entry in an LGBTQ+ glossary.
Listening to Contemporary Two-Spirit Voices
Historical roles do not tell us everything about a living person. Look for contemporary Indigenous writers, organisations and speakers, and take account of differences between nations. Avoid presenting Indigenous societies as a single culture or implying that every community has had the same history of acceptance.
A respectful introduction leaves room for that diversity. The 1990 adoption of an English umbrella term is one moment in an ongoing history, not the beginning of Indigenous gender and sexual diversity.
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