Anishinabek Nation hosts Niizhwaadziwag Conference

By Laura Barrios

CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION—The Anishinabek Nation brought together the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and allies at the Niizhwaadziwag – Two-Spirit Conference to provide awareness and education on gender-based violence and the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, create understanding of the Two-Spirit community, and create an engagement opportunity for First Nation Leadership, frontline workers, Elders, and community members to come together in the spirit of learning.

The two-day conference, held from September 16 to 17 in Chippewas of Rama First Nation, opened in a good way with Rainbow Flight Drum Group and Thanksgiving with Anishinabek Nation Getzidjig Advisory Council member Ookomis Donna Debassige.

Led by the Anishinabek Nation Niizhwaadziwag (2SLGBTQQAI+) Advisory Council members, Day 1 participants engaged in an interactive Clan Dance Activity where they learned about clan roles and responsibilities, with a focus on Two-Spirit, Two-Heart Indigenous queer relatives and kin.

“Two-Spirit people were seen as contrary. And so, when we do our dances at pow wows and those types of things, you’ll see Two-Spirit go contrary; that way, people know who our gifted, sacred, spiritual people are, and that we know who other Two-Spirit, Two-Heart Indigenous queer people are, too,” stated NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun, Niizhwaadziwag (2SLGBTQQAI+) Advisory Council member. “When Two-Spirit people are present, or when Two-Spirit people do ceremony, we’ve always believed that those ceremonies have a much more spiritual height, and that’s because of our ability to be able to travel between the physical and spiritual world; to be able to travel freely within the dream world is because we carry the ceremonies of both the masculine and the feminine.”

During breakout sessions categorized by clan, participants came together to explore what changes have taken place in Indigenous communities with respect to the ways of life and being—including what is good and what needs further work.

“It’s important that we understand who we are, where we come from, and where we need to go…We need to have a better understanding of our gifts that we bring into these circles,” expressed NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun. “We need to be able to reflect on those changes in order to make change and action happen.”

Niizhwaadziwag (2SLGBTQQAI+) Advisory Council members Heidi Whetung and NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun led participants in the Two-Spirit Indigenous Queer History, while Aaron Bowerman facilitated an interactive Two-Spirit Roles and Responsibilities presentation.

Anishinabek Nation leadership and allies in attendance acknowledged that the road of acceptance has not been smooth for many, but that Two-Spirit, Two-Heart Indigenous queer relatives and kin hold space within community.

“I come here with respect, an open mind, and prepared to listen and learn. I cannot speak for Two-Spirit, and should not, but I can support you,” stated Southeast Regional Chief Marsha Smoke. “This conference is an opportunity to learn about the Two-Spirit history, traditional laws, roles, and responsibilities, leadership, efficacy, and the experiences of those that walk between different worlds. It is also an opportunity to remember something our Ancestors understood: every person has gifts, responsibilities, and a place within our circle.”

“In our communities, we try to encompass everybody; if our circle isn’t full, it isn’t complete,” stated Deputy Grand Council Chief Chris Plain. “There’s always a place for everybody in our circles.”

“There is allyship, friendship, and family right here in the Anishinabek community — we are all one big family,” stated Chippewas of Rama First Nation Chief Ted Williams during his opening remarks on Day 1 of the conference. “I want to ask you to be the people you’re supposed to be. Be the humans you’re supposed to be. Be accomplishers, be achievers that you are destined to be. Miigwech for blessing us with your presence in Rama.”

Bowerman added that this conference and events that bring together 2SLGBTQQIA+ community relatives serve as prevention work to keep vulnerable kin safe.

“Unfortunately, when Two-Spirit people aren’t supported, or LGBTQ people, or youth or anyone really, when they’re not supported, they do look for community. And you know, a lot of the time, that community comes in the form of other people who use drugs. Doing something like this (conference) is prevention work.”

Day 1 of the conference also welcomed Ookomis Debassige, Kwe-Wag Advisory Council members Evelyn Stone and Betsy Kechego, and Bear Charles from Fort William First Nation, who formed the Wise Ones Panel. The panel explored how returning to traditional, pre-colonial languages helps understand and affirm Two-Spirit, Two-Heart identities; what services communities could use to support Two-Spirit, Two-Heart Indigenous queer relatives; and how to work together to bring Two-Spirit back into the circle and address homophobia and transphobia in communities.

Stephanie Stephens, Registered Social Worker and operator of Waabishka Miigwan Consulting, opened up Day 2 with her presentation on Anishinaabe Traditional Laws and Ethics Embracing Two-Spirit Identities.

“…All of the knowledge, everyone has it in their life, in their blood memory, because you are made up of the blood of your Ancestors. You have all of the knowledge in you, whether it’s awakened or not. And you learn from going within. You can. Your umbilical connection, the spirit—you tap into that.”

Former Kettle and Stony Point First Nation Chief Jason Henry and his daughter, Banaise-Kwe, focused on Advocacy for Two-Spirits Moving Forward, beginning with a short film, IndigiQueer, as part of the Veracity documentary Series. In this short, which premiered in March 2023, Sarain Fox examines the past, present, and future of queerness for members of the Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ community across Turtle Island, including the personal journey of self-acceptance of Banaise-Kwe.

“As Indigenous people and as allies, I know many of you here are not queer and are not Two-Spirit, and some of you are not Indigenous, but all of you that chose to come here today made a big step forward in your journey: choosing to be an ally, choosing to show up to a conference that might not be accepted,” states Banaise-Kwe Henry. “And it’s your responsibility to help young people; that’s the importance in all of this. The reason we showed up here, the reason why I’m talking, the reason why the documentary was made was for the future and for the past to make that right for what happened to our grandparents and our great-grandparents in Residential Schools.”

Banaise-Kwe is grateful for her upbringing and family, and for being deeply in tune with being Anishinaabe. She understands that experiencing support and love throughout this journey is not the case for many 2SLGBTQQAI+ relatives and kin, and considers herself fortunate to have had that positive experience, also adding that she attributes her ability to be herself to her Anishinaabe identity.

“And since 2021, I’ve been myself almost entirely. Because of the way that I was raised. Because I was raised with my Anishinaabe identity. Because I can say that my name is Banaise-Kwe. And my grandmother before me had that name, and my great-grandmother, and my great-great-grandmother, and so on and so forth as long as we can remember. Because my Anishinaabe identity has never been shaken and I’ve always known who I am, when it was time for me to be true about who I am and what my queer identity is, I knew that I would be okay, even if I was rejected. I knew that I would be able to get through this because I know my spirituality and I know my Anishinaabe identity,” expressed Banaise-Kwe. “Give them (young people) their identity, give them their Anishinaabe names, give them their culture, their ceremonies, and their home. And make sure that they know who they are, and they can find who they are, and they can navigate teen life and adult life, and Elder life, and create strong foundations for young people to navigate the world. I hope all of you guys would do the same thing in helping and guiding our future and our young people to grow into strong, powerful, and resilient Anishinaabe people, Two-Spirit people, IndigiQueer people.”

Participants had the opportunity to watch the 20-minute film, The Roof, which tells the coming-of-age story of a Two-Spirit Northern Cheyenne teenager who is sent to live with their grandfather, and to meet the film writer Adam Parker. Following the screening, participants engaged in a question-and-answer and open discussion with the Northern Cheyanne writer.

Day 2 also included a presentation from Dr. Chett Monague, Anishinaabe chiropractor and owner of Full Circle Chiropractic and Wellness and citizen of Beausoleil First Nation, explored Two-Spirit Nation Leadership Training & Development with participants; Mallory Solomon, 2SLGBTQIA+ Project Specialist with Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, on Walking Between Two Worlds as a Two-Spirit IndigiQueer in Youth; and Dr. Randall Jackson, Associate Professor in the McMaster School of Social Work, Department of Health Aging and Society, and a McMaster University Indigenous Research Institute researcher, on Understanding & Awareness of the Two-Spirit Community.

While every guest speaker and presenter imparted impactful and helpful information to the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and allies alike, NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun offered a teaching to all participants.

“Although you may think or you may feel that you have a loved one that might be coming out, allow us to do that when we’re ready. Allow us to do it when we feel the time is right. Allow us to do it when we’re feeling that the space is safer.”