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AN INTRODUCTION to the HEALTH of TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE: Historical, Contemporary and Emergent Issues

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AN INTRODUCTION to the HEALTH of TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE: Historical, Contemporary and Emergent Issues AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH OF TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE: Historical, contemporary and emergent issues Sarah Hunt, PhD EMERGING PRIORITIES © 2016 National Collaborating Centre This publication is available for Citation: Hunt, S. (2016). An Introduction for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH). This download at: www.nccah-ccnsa.ca. All to the Health of Two-Spirit People: Historical, publication was funded by the NCCAH and NCCAH materials are available free contemporary and emergent issues. Prince made possible through a financial contribution and can be reproduced in whole or in George, BC: National Collaborating from the Public Health Agency of Canada. part with appropriate attribution and Centre for Aboriginal Health. The views expressed herein do not necessarily citation. All NCCAH materials are represent the views of the Public Health Agency to be used solely for non-commercial For further information or to obtain of Canada. purposes. To measure the impact of additional copies, please contact: these materials, please inform us of their Acknowledgements use. National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health The NCCAH uses an external blind Une version française est également 3333 University Way review process for documents that publiée sur le site www.ccnsa-nccah.ca, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9 are research based, involve literature sous le titre Une introduction à la santé des Tel: 250 960 5250 reviews or knowledge synthesis, or personnes bispirituelles : questions historiques, Fax: 250 960 5644 undertake an assessment of knowledge contemporaines et émergentes. Email: [email protected] gaps. We would like to acknowledge Web: www.nccah-ccnsa.ca our reviewers for their generous contributions of time and expertise to this manuscript. Outer Cover Photo © Credit: iStockPhoto.com, ID 71359215 Inner Cover Photo © Credit: iStockPhoto.com, ID 54242946 CONTENTS BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT -----------------------------------------------4 1.0 INTRODUCING TWO-SPIRIT ROLES AND IDENTITIES ---------------7 2.0 IMPACT OF COLONIZATION ON ABORIGINAL GENDER AND SEXUALITY ---------------------------------------------------------------------9 3.0 SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH: UNDERSTANDING THE COLONIAL CONTEXT ----------------------------------------------------- 11 3.1 Homophobia, transphobia, cisnormativity and heteronormativity --------------------------------------------------------- 12 3.2 Systemic Invisibility ------------------------------------------------------------- 12 3.3 Urbanity and mobility ---------------------------------------------------------- 13 4.0 HEALTH STATUS OF TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE: OVERVIEW OF AVAILABLE LITERATURE --------------------------------------------- 15 4.1 Violence --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 4.2 Mental Health and Substance Use ------------------------------------------ 16 4.3 Suicide ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 4.4 HIV/AIDS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Download this publication at www.nccah-ccnsa.ca/34/ 5.0 TWO-SPIRIT YOUTH HEALTH ------------------------------------------- 18 Publications.nccah 5.1 Centering youth perspectives ------------------------------------------------ 18 5.2 Bullying, homophobia, racism ----------------------------------------------- 18 5.3 Street involvement, homelessness and exploitation ------------------- 19 6.0 RESILIENCY AND RESURGENCE OF TWO-SPIRIT ROLES --------- 21 6.1 Resurgence of Indigenous gender roles ----------------------------------- 21 6.2 Building Two-Spirit Community --------------------------------------------- 22 6.3 Reclaiming Two-Spirit Roles and Identities -------------------------------- 22 La version française est également disponible au 6.4 Acknowledging Two-Spirit people within health discourse ---------- 22 www.ccnsa-nccah.ca/193/ Publications.nccah 7.0 CONCLUSION --------------------------------------------------------------- 25 RESOURCES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 REFERENCES --------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 List of Acronyms CAAN ..................... Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network CCSDH .................... Commission on Social Determinants of Health DTES ....................... Downtown east side FNHA...................... First Nations Health Authority LGBTQ ................... Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer LGBTQ2S ............... Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit NAHO ..................... National Aboriginal Health Organization NWAC ..................... Native Women's Association of Canada PHAC ....................... Public Health Agency of Canada RCAP ....................... Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples UN ............................ United Nations BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT In recent years, the rights of sexual and be understood within the dual context the resiliency, resurgence and gender minorities1 has become a key site of colonial oppression, which is rooted acknowledgement of Two-Spirit roles of both international political discourse in heteropatriarchy, and the vibrant and identities are discussed as integral to and social justice movements. In 2012, resurgence of Two-Spirit peoples’ improving the health and well-being of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights gender roles and sexual identities. The Two-Spirit people. Council held its first panel discussion intended audience of this introductory on violence and discrimination against paper is health practitioners, Indigenous Methodology individuals based on sexual orientation community members and researchers and gender identity, in order to facilitate working in areas of Indigenous health, The information presented herein was dialogue on discriminatory laws, gender and sexuality. Further, the gathered through a review of available practices and targeted violence (Human well-being of Two-Spirit people should literature – including both peer- and Rights Council, 2012). Informed by a be of concern to anyone working to non peer-reviewed sources – on Two- study by the High Commissioner for build the capacity of communities Spirit peoples’ health. Additionally, Human Rights, this discussion echoed to achieve health equity for all, truly literature on Aboriginal peoples’ longstanding grassroots movements bringing meaning to the teaching “all health more broadly was included in calling for the equal application of my relations.” where appropriate in order to provide human rights standards to ensure that the general context in which Two- sexual and gender minorities enjoy the This paper is an introduction of Spirit peoples’ health is situated. A same freedoms as everyone else. The available research on the health of review of current Two-Spirit activism, panel identified addressing homophobia, Two-Spirit people and a discussion of literature and arts-based expression recognizing same-sex relationships, emergent community considerations was also analyzed for common themes and recognizing transgender identities which shape how Two-Spirit health is in order to situate Two-Spirit health as integral to achieving rights for these understood. It begins by introducing within emerging socio-political issues. groups (Ibid.). the diversity of Two-Spirit roles and Literature from both Canada and the identities within Aboriginal cultures. It United States has been utilized in In the context of Aboriginal then turns to a discussion of the impacts this paper, in recognition of ongoing communities in Canada, achieving of colonization on Aboriginal peoples’ Two-Spirit community organizing equity for Two-Spirit people is an gender roles and sexuality, including which spans the Canada-U.S. border emergent field of health research, which the diminishment of previously revered and because of the similar ways in intersects with broad movements for spaces occupied by Two-Spirit peoples. which Two-Spirit peoples’ health in both Aboriginal rights and lesbian, This is followed by an overview of both countries has been impacted by gay, bisexual, transgender and queer the social determinants of Aboriginal colonization. (LGBTQ) rights nationally and peoples’ health, with a particular view internationally. Given that Two- to understanding the experiences of Spirit people are largely overlooked Aboriginal lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, in Aboriginal health literature, the queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S) purpose of this paper is to introduce the people. Available research on the health historical, contemporary and emergent and well-being of Two-Spirit people is issues related to Two-Spirit health. The then presented. The health of Two-Spirit discussion that follows is framed around youth is then discussed, emphasizing the premise that Two-Spirit health must a strengths-based approach. Finally, 1 ‘Sexual and gender minorities’ are people who are, individually and collectively, marginalized because of societal norms, social structures, and public institutions which systematically reinforce sexual and gender norms rooted in heteropatriarchy. 4 A note about gender, sex each letter in this acronym denotes a sexual and/or gender identity that has and sexuality its own distinct meaning. Gender is the expression, behavior or identification Dominant categories of gender, sex and of a person considered masculine, sexuality have been introduced through feminine, and androgynous or any colonial processes and institutions, mix thereof. Gender categories are along with other categories
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