Two-Spirited Experiences and Politics

This journal entry is a response to ‘First Stories – Two Spirited,’ a short film by Sharon A. Desjarlais. This film tells the story of Two-Spirit Jingle dancer Geeyo. In the film, Geeyo’s mother tells of Geeyo’s experience being “humiliated by a misguided Elder,” noting that “since contact, [we] have learned to judge and condemn [our] Two-Spirited people.” Despite this obstacle, Geeyo continues to perform as a dancer in women’s Jingle. Ultimately, this story is one of self-determination and resilience.

Despite being short in length, this film exemplifies the reaches of colonial attitudes towards Two-Spirited peoples—they are marginalized even within Indigenous communities. As this film makes clear, the oppression of Indigenous peoples, especially Two-Spirited peoples, resulting from colonialism and colonization echoes through contemporary Western society as well as Indigenous communities. However, while it is important that Two-Spirit peoples maintain and assert their identities (as the film conveys), it is not their responsibility to convince others that their identities are valid—the mission to seek the truth behind these stereotypes belongs to the rest of us. It is our job to correct the misinformation about Two-Spirited peoples that has been forced upon us by a white colonial history. This is not to say that Desjarlais’ film and Geeyo’s story is not important—it is. However, I think the important takeaway from this film is: despite pervasive negative attitudes surrounding Indigenous peoples and/or Two-Spirit identities, learning about these individuals, (through documentary films for example), is important in the process of decolonization —only then can Two-Spirited peoples experience the humanity they deserve.