Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness

This article examines Indigenous queerness by moving beyond the literal definition of “two-spirit” to explore the diversity and commonalities of Indigenous queer identities. Through detailed analysis of three distinct examples—the Diné/Navajo Nádleehi, the Shoshone Tainna wa'ippe, and the Inui...

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Main Author: Nicolas Côté-Saucier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mount Saint Vincent University 2025-07-01
Series:Atlantis
Subjects:
Online Access:https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5931
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author Nicolas Côté-Saucier
author_facet Nicolas Côté-Saucier
author_sort Nicolas Côté-Saucier
collection DOAJ
description This article examines Indigenous queerness by moving beyond the literal definition of “two-spirit” to explore the diversity and commonalities of Indigenous queer identities. Through detailed analysis of three distinct examples—the Diné/Navajo Nádleehi, the Shoshone Tainna wa'ippe, and the Inuit Sipiniq—this article demonstrates the vast differences in Indigenous gender systems while identifying four unifying characteristics: spirituality, fluid notions of gender/sexuality, connections to tradition, and a state of “in-betweenness.” This article concludes by examining contemporary indigiqueer realities, highlighting ongoing challenges such as historical disconnection, community homophobia, racism in queer spaces, and lack of intersectional approaches, while acknowledging positive social changes and increasing representation in mainstream media.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Mount Saint Vincent University
record_format Article
series Atlantis
spelling doaj-art-fb92cd8203384af4ac339481fca99c622025-08-20T03:50:39ZengMount Saint Vincent UniversityAtlantis0702-78181715-06982025-07-01462Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous QueernessNicolas Côté-Saucier0York University This article examines Indigenous queerness by moving beyond the literal definition of “two-spirit” to explore the diversity and commonalities of Indigenous queer identities. Through detailed analysis of three distinct examples—the Diné/Navajo Nádleehi, the Shoshone Tainna wa'ippe, and the Inuit Sipiniq—this article demonstrates the vast differences in Indigenous gender systems while identifying four unifying characteristics: spirituality, fluid notions of gender/sexuality, connections to tradition, and a state of “in-betweenness.” This article concludes by examining contemporary indigiqueer realities, highlighting ongoing challenges such as historical disconnection, community homophobia, racism in queer spaces, and lack of intersectional approaches, while acknowledging positive social changes and increasing representation in mainstream media. https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5931colonialismIndigenous queernessindigiqueerintersectionalitysexuality and gender diversitytwo-spirit
spellingShingle Nicolas Côté-Saucier
Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
Atlantis
colonialism
Indigenous queerness
indigiqueer
intersectionality
sexuality and gender diversity
two-spirit
title Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
title_full Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
title_fullStr Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
title_full_unstemmed Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
title_short Of Two-Spirit and Indigenous Queerness
title_sort of two spirit and indigenous queerness
topic colonialism
Indigenous queerness
indigiqueer
intersectionality
sexuality and gender diversity
two-spirit
url https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5931
work_keys_str_mv AT nicolascotesaucier oftwospiritandindigenousqueerness