An Aside on Two-Spirits

Many Native American tribes have an enlightened view of transgender, gay and lesbian tribes-persons. They are considered to be people of "Two Spirits," male and female, and are regarded with respect. Two-Spirits are considered to have been "born this way," and accepted as such by the tribe.

Among the Tohono O'odham of eastern Arizona and Northwestern Mexico, if it seems that a boy or girl has some question regarding his or her gender, he or she is told to enter a brush enclosure into which have been placed a bow and arrow (for boys) and a basket (for girls.)  The brush enclosure is then set on fire to hurry the child along. If the boy chooses the basket or the girl chooses the bow and arrow, then he or she is believed to be a Two-Spirit and is accepted as such.

Among the Mojave, when a boy reaches the age of nine to twelve, and there seems to be some question as to the boy's gender identity, he is made to enter a circle of his family, friends and extended family, at which time, a singer begins to sing ritual songs. If the boy dances in the manner of a man, he is considered to have the spirit of a man, but if he dances in the manner of a woman, he is considered as one who has Two-Spirits, that of a man and a woman, and is accorded his place in Mojave society. One can assume that the same ritual applies to girls who are "tomboyish."

Among the Lakota, a ceremony is held in which the child in question is supposed to communicate with a Two-Spirit who has already passed. This spirit of the dead Two-Spirit is supposed to tell the child whether or not the gender-confusion is temporary (a passing phase) or permanent.  If the spirit tells the child that it is permanent, then the child is considered to be another Two-Spirit and is treated as such without question.

While the Comanche, certain tribes of the Apache Nation, the Iroquois, and the Incans and the Mayans of Mezo-America have claimed not to have any Two-Spirits in their tribes, one hundred and fifty North American tribes have historically made a place for them. These tribes include the Navajo, the Papago, the Mojave, the Yache, the Oglala-Sioux, the Zuni, the Omaha, the Aleut, the Kodiak, the Zapotec, the Cheyenne, the Yuki, the Winnebago, the Maidu, the Crow, the Chumash, the Lakota, the Tohono O'odham, the Lipan, the Mescalero, the Dilzhe'e, the Inuit and the Hidasta.

Two-Spirits are often the medicine men, the healers, the matchmakers, the interpreters of dreams, the seers, the craftspeople, the singers, the teachers, and those who were devoted to the welfare of the tribe, but they are just as likely to be the warriors and hunters. They are allowed complete freedom in attire and choice of mate, provided that the other is willing, and are believed to have all of the creative, intuitive, intellectual and artistic power and prowess of both men and women.

Two-Spirits are called by the following names by the following tribes (although this may refer only to the men with the Two Spirits and not the women with the Two Spirits.)

Navajo - "nadleehe"   
Lakota - "winkte."
Mojave - "alyha"
Zuni - "lhamana"
Omaha - "mexoga"
Aleut - "achnucek"
Kodiak - "achnucek"
Zapotec - "ira'muxe"
Cheyenne - "hee-man-eh"