Urban Indigenous Youth Reframing Two-Spirit [Hardcover]

Artist Statement on the Cover Artwork by Kaya Joan

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The Emergence of Two-Spirit

Chapter 3 Refusing the Question What Does Two-Spirit Mean?

Chapter 4 Two-Spirit as a Hashtag and a Container

Chapter 5 Roots of the Literal Definition

Chapter 6 Needs & Desires

Chapter 7 Conclusion

Two-Spirit Zine

Community Discussion Guide

This book offers insights from young trans, queer, and two-spirit Indigenous people in Toronto who examine the breadth and depth of meanings that two-spirit holds. Tracing the refusals and desires of these youth and their communities, Urban Indigenous Youth Reframing Two-Spirit expands critical conversations on queerness, Indigeneity, and community and simultaneously troubles the idea that articulating a definition of two-spirit is a worthwhile undertaking. Beyond the expansion of these conversations, this book also seeks to empower community members, educators, and young people  both Indigenous and non-Indigenous  to better support the self-determination of trans, queer, and two-spirit Indigenous youth. By including a research zine and community discussion guidelines, Laing demonstrates the possibility of powerful change that comes from Indigenous people creating spaces to share knowledge with one another.

This book offers insights from young trans, queer and two-spirit Indigenous people in Toronto who examine the breadth and depth of meanings that two-spirit holds.

Marie Laing is a Youth Leader with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network in Toronto, Canada.

Certain to be essential reading in the study of Indigenous gender and sexuality and community-cenl³¡