First Nations/Pre-Contact Era & Two-Spirited
Unless you have taken a course in school or have been directly involved with someone who is two-spirited, you may not be aware of the term "two-spirit". But even if people have heard the term before it doesn't mean that they understand what the word actually means. From my knowledge on first nation people and those who are two spirited means that, two-spirit people have two spirits within them. Within these two spirits, one spirit being more masculine and the other being more feminine. Studies show that "information about sexual orientation and transgender issues for Aboriginal cultures date back to 1555" (Napoleon, 2002, p. 153). If this information dates so far back, why we are once again going through a stage where being LGBT is not acceptable. Why have people worked so hard to be accepted, just to have to revert back to not being accepted. It is very challenging for me to be able to accept that this can even happen. It shows that this is not something that is new, and that people have been struggling with for generations and generations.
During the pre-contact times, the Aboriginal communities were very open and tolerated issues regarding sexual orientation. Firstly, it was seen that "sexual freedom and opposite-sex marriage was accepted, and one did not have to be a special healer or shaman to be accepted as gay" (Napoleon, 2002). Secondly, "sexuality was seen as a gift from the spirit world and restriction of sexual behaviour was not an accepted societal function" (Napoleon, 2002). Although in some Aboriginal communities, being two-spirited was not always looked at as acceptable or the norm. However the "preservation of ceremonial and social cultures by American Indians provides the basis for which to make arguments against the acceptance of LGBT Native lifestyles" (Gilley, 2010, p. 48). According to Gilley (2010) the diverse separation and changed thoughts on sexuality began during the European contact time. During this time many "Indians began to convert to Christianity and they accepted the idea that same-sex relationships were sinful" (Gilley, 2010, p. 52). After this large change that happened with the Aboriginal peoples, their ceremonial and social practices that included two-spirited people were not expected and had largely declined. Just because a person is involved in a same-sex relationship should not mean that their ceremonial and social practices should taken less lightly and or even taken away.
After the European contact happened is when the homophobia and discrimination begins. When people were comfortable with whom they are and were accepted by their friends, family and community, outsiders come in with different beliefs and views and promote their beliefs to the first nation people. An extremely high number of Aboriginal gay men, lesbian and transgender people end up leaving the community they know, and moving to large urban centers where they can feel safe, attain acceptance and anonymity. For aboriginal peoples to have to leave where they have grown up and have established their life just so they can be safe and feel acceptance is very sad. Overtime many tribes lost their ceremonies and practices. When looking at ceremonies potentially coming to an end "A Lakota elder and ceremonial leader said that we can't let these ways die over hate for gay people" (Gilley, 2010, p. 56). To me this is a very powerful statement. Why would you ruin sacred ceremonies that people have been part of for many years all because someone has a sexual orientation that someone may not be comfortable with? If people were able to be accepting and have open minds, not only could the communities come together, but these ceremonies and practices can be saved and continued throughout generations. These ceremonies have been a tradition for generations within family, and due to someone’s sexual orientation they are at risk to be extinct.
It is hard and sad to believe that something that was once looked at so accepted in the pre-contact era could change so drastically during the European contact. "As long as Aboriginal nations do not undertake to end discrimination against gay men, lesbians, and transgendered people, they accept homophobia and the continued loss of citizens who must seek safety and acceptance far away from home" (Napoleon, 2002, p. 171). Not only will communities lose people, they will also lose social and ceremonial practices. Not only will this affect the individual but it will also affect the families, as well as the communities involved. These people are packing up and leaving everything that they know, so that they can feel safe and accepted. I feel that, that in itself is a huge issue. People should not have to leave their lives, families and communities just so that they can be who they are.
During the pre-contact times, the Aboriginal communities were very open and tolerated issues regarding sexual orientation. Firstly, it was seen that "sexual freedom and opposite-sex marriage was accepted, and one did not have to be a special healer or shaman to be accepted as gay" (Napoleon, 2002). Secondly, "sexuality was seen as a gift from the spirit world and restriction of sexual behaviour was not an accepted societal function" (Napoleon, 2002). Although in some Aboriginal communities, being two-spirited was not always looked at as acceptable or the norm. However the "preservation of ceremonial and social cultures by American Indians provides the basis for which to make arguments against the acceptance of LGBT Native lifestyles" (Gilley, 2010, p. 48). According to Gilley (2010) the diverse separation and changed thoughts on sexuality began during the European contact time. During this time many "Indians began to convert to Christianity and they accepted the idea that same-sex relationships were sinful" (Gilley, 2010, p. 52). After this large change that happened with the Aboriginal peoples, their ceremonial and social practices that included two-spirited people were not expected and had largely declined. Just because a person is involved in a same-sex relationship should not mean that their ceremonial and social practices should taken less lightly and or even taken away.
After the European contact happened is when the homophobia and discrimination begins. When people were comfortable with whom they are and were accepted by their friends, family and community, outsiders come in with different beliefs and views and promote their beliefs to the first nation people. An extremely high number of Aboriginal gay men, lesbian and transgender people end up leaving the community they know, and moving to large urban centers where they can feel safe, attain acceptance and anonymity. For aboriginal peoples to have to leave where they have grown up and have established their life just so they can be safe and feel acceptance is very sad. Overtime many tribes lost their ceremonies and practices. When looking at ceremonies potentially coming to an end "A Lakota elder and ceremonial leader said that we can't let these ways die over hate for gay people" (Gilley, 2010, p. 56). To me this is a very powerful statement. Why would you ruin sacred ceremonies that people have been part of for many years all because someone has a sexual orientation that someone may not be comfortable with? If people were able to be accepting and have open minds, not only could the communities come together, but these ceremonies and practices can be saved and continued throughout generations. These ceremonies have been a tradition for generations within family, and due to someone’s sexual orientation they are at risk to be extinct.
It is hard and sad to believe that something that was once looked at so accepted in the pre-contact era could change so drastically during the European contact. "As long as Aboriginal nations do not undertake to end discrimination against gay men, lesbians, and transgendered people, they accept homophobia and the continued loss of citizens who must seek safety and acceptance far away from home" (Napoleon, 2002, p. 171). Not only will communities lose people, they will also lose social and ceremonial practices. Not only will this affect the individual but it will also affect the families, as well as the communities involved. These people are packing up and leaving everything that they know, so that they can feel safe and accepted. I feel that, that in itself is a huge issue. People should not have to leave their lives, families and communities just so that they can be who they are.
Ultimately, I feel that people should be accepted for who they are as a person, and not for their sexual orientation. If people didn’t care about sexual orientation more people could work together for the greater good. I believe that with education and awareness that people can learn to have open minds and positive change can be made. I will continue to be an ally, and advocate for the LGBT community, and help reduce stigma and prejudice.
Alysha
References
Gilley, B.J. (2010). Native Sexual Inequalities: American Indian Cultural Conservative Homophobia and the Problem of Tradition. Sexualities. Sage Journals, 13 (1) 47-68. http://sex.sagepub.com/content/13/1/47.abstractNapoleon, V. (2002). Raven's Garden: A Discussion about Aboriginal Sexual Orientation and Transgender Issues. Canadian Journal of Law, 17 (2) 149-171. http://forms.msvu.ca/atlantis/vol/292pdf/292napol.PDF
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