From the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children Learning Network:
Gender-based violence (GBV) and the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls remain serious issues in Canada, with devastating consequences. Despite increased awareness and efforts to address these issues, the voices and experiences of two spirit* individuals have largely been excluded.
This Backgrounder centers two spirit Indigenous Peoples and their understandings and experiences of GBV. It also identifies and offers solutions to address the multiple intersecting barriers that hinder two spirit inclusion in the GBV sector.
Access the full Backgrounder document here: Gender-Based Violence Against Two Spirit Indigenous Peoples
Two spirit people face high rates of violence. According to a survey of two spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse Indigenous individuals conducted by Trans PULSE in 2019 (results released 2021):1
- 79% had experienced verbal harassment
- 54% had experienced sexual harassment
- 52% had experienced physical intimidation and threats
- 76% avoided 3 or more types of public spaces for fear of harassment or outing in the past five years
*The term “two spirit” can also be spelled as “two-spirit,” “two spirited,” or abbreviated as “2S.”
Two spirit individuals can be of any sex, gender, or sexuality and are of Indigenous identity. Two spirit is an open and broad term, similar to how queer and trans/non-binary can be used in Western (i.e. North American or Western European) contexts.
For some people, the term carries a spiritual aspect as well, as many “gender non-conforming” members of First Nations historically had important roles within their communities, and still do.
Two spirits individuals may also identify as trans, cis, non-binary, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or any other term that falls within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. It’s always best practice to follow the individual’s expressed preference. For this Backgrounder, all identities will be included when “two spirit” is used.
Access the full Backgrounder document here: Gender-Based Violence Against Two Spirit Indigenous Peoples
About this Backgrounder:
This Backgrounder is guest authored by Imriel Bissnette and designed (including graphics and visuals) by Owen Petit from 2 Spirits in Motion Society (2SiMS). 2SiMS is a national organization for and by two spirit people across Turtle Island. They aim to express themselves through cultural ways of knowing and being around gender and sexuality, as well as to succeed and be empowered in all areas that are grounded in the medicines that two spirit people carry from coast to coast to coast.
Suggested Citation: Bissnette, I. (2024). Gender-Based Violence Against Two Spirit Indigenous Peoples. Learning Network Backgrounder. London, Ontario: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children.
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