Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Two-spirit identity highlighted at P.E.I. Pride Week event

Two-spirit identity highlighted at P.E.I. Pride Week event

CBC
Sunday, July 30, 2023 12:36 PM GMT

Islanders participating in a workshop held by the Native Council of P.E.I. Thursday got a chance to explore gender identity from an Indigenous perspective as they learned about the history of two-spirit people.

"Two-spirit" is a term for Indigenous people who feel they have both a female and a male spirit.

Mi'kmaw knowledge-keeper Stephenson Joe said that while it might sound new and trendy, the two-spirit identity has existed long before colonization.

"There was a sacredness amongst two-spirit people, especially amongst the medicine people," Joe said.

He said their ability to switch between traditional gender roles was useful in times of war and peace.

If there weren't enough male warriors, Joe said, a two-spirited person could switch and go into battle. And if there were not enough women, they could act as caregivers, gatherers, or medicine preparers.

"If the male medicine person wasn't strong enough or didn't have the teachings to do that particular ceremony, a two-spirited person would be needed to conduct that particular ceremony and vice versa," he said. 

Joe said religious rules brought by Europeans drove two-spirited people underground.

"We just accepted each other [before that]," he said.

"That needs to come back."

Kaelyn Mercer is the Native Council's two-spirit co-ordinator. She said European colonizers targeted two-spirit people when they came to North America. 

"They were seen as unworldly," she said.

Thursday's event, done in partnership with Pride P.E.I. as part of Pride Week, saw the screening of a documentary about a two-spirit person who'd been the victim of a hate crime.

The screening was followed by a healing circle to discuss the film. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Fort Good Hope N.W.T man sentenced to 7 years in prison for manslaughter

An N.W.T judge has sentenced a man from Fort Good Hope to seven years in prison for killing another man from the community last year.

Most Albertans will have to pay for COVID-19 shots starting this fall, province says

Alberta's government says residents who are not immunocompromised or on social programs will soon have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Man shot by police in Markham condo unit has died: SIU

A man shot by a police officer in a condo in Markham earlier this week has died, the Special Investigations Unit says.

P.E.I. coroner's office investigating 55-year-old man's death in Charlottetown park

Prince Edward Island's coroner's office is investigating a recent death at Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park in Charlottetown. 

Yukon RCMP report fatal car crash south of Whitehorse

The RCMP is responding to a fatal collision south of Whitehorse that left one dead and another injured. 

Canada calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, says foreign affairs minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is calling for de-escalation after Israel targeted Iran's nuclear sites and killed Iranian military leaders with a barrage of airstrikes early Friday.

RCMP ask for help identifying 2 men connected to indecent acts on P.E.I.'s North Shore

Police in Prince Edward Island are asking for the public's help identifying two men involved in separate incidents of indecent acts that were reported in Queens County.

His dad's old age pension suddenly stopped coming, leaving couple at 'desperation time'

A London couple say they've been hit with a steep and unexpected monthly expense, after the federal government stopped an elder family member's old age security payments without explanation — payments which went toward expensive nursing home costs.

On the road to the G7 in Kananaskis, a popular wilderness retreat locks down

"Please, allow me to show you my bus that I drive for G7," says the driver.

Happy City hoping to inspire candidates ahead of N.L. election season

Newfoundland and Labrador is about four months out from what will likely become election season in the province — and a St. John's non-profit group thinks there will likely be some big changes at the local level. 

Sault College president says its getting harder to maintain 'core programs' with financial pressures

Another post-secondary institution in northeastern Ontario is struggling to operate as it is squeezed by dropping international enrolment and a longstanding tuition freeze.

CBRM councillors call for thorough review of fire departments, equipment and staffing

Councillors in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality have called for a full review of volunteer and career fire services over concerns about the number of departments and the cost of staffing and equipping them.

Mountie says he held man's cash because of 'jerk' defence lawyer

A New Brunswick RCMP officer testifying at a drug trafficking trial this week was questioned by the defence about theft charges he himself faces in an unrelated case.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Why removing a dead deer from the Thames River wasn't a situation of passing the buck

Warning: Some readers may find photos in this story distressing.

Can the G7 leaders still find anything to agree about?

Fifty years ago this fall the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States met in a castle outside Paris for three days of meetings, at the conclusion of which they issued the Declaration of Rambouillet, a 15-point statement of principles and commitments.

'It's escalating every minute': Iranian woman living in N.L. watches conflict with worry

An Iranian woman living in Newfoundland and Labrador says she's watching attacks between Israel and Iran with worry for her family back home.

Dramatic video captures school bus explosion in Hammonds Plains

Chase Valiant was in the middle of making an afternoon snack when his day took a dramatic turn.

Province paid Dr. John Dornan nearly $1.8M in settlement over firing as Horizon CEO

The provincial government ended up reaching a $1.8-million settlement with now-Health Minister Dr. John Dornan over his firing as the head of Horizon Health Network following the death of a Fredericton ER patient.

Montreal commuter seeks class action against public transit agency over labour strike

An authorization request to launch a class-action lawsuit against Montreal's public transit agency was filed in Quebec Superior Court Friday.

Thompson says finding hotel rooms for evacuees 'difficult' as Manitoba mulls invoking emergency powers

The City of Thompson says moving wildfire evacuees from its congregate shelter to hotel lodgings should be "a top priority," but that finding accommodations is hard this time of the year.

Family rushes to India to formally identify Regina father killed in Air India crash

The family of a Saskatchewan man says he died in the crash of an Air India plane bound for London on Thursday.

Airbnb says thousands of B.C. reservations at risk, blames 'rushed' rental rules

Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb said Friday that "thousands" of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of cancellation, accusing the province of rushing out regulations as it cracked down on the industry.

Protester gets on Ford Fest stage in Etobicoke at annual Ontario PC event

A protester made it onto the stage at a Ford Fest event in Etobicoke organized by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party on Friday.

New patient targets for family doctors could hurt P.E.I.'s reputation, says national college

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is raising concerns over new targets for family doctors on P.E.I. and calling on all parties to work together to find a solution.

Hanlan's Beach is getting a bubble zone to keep away motorized boats and vehicles

Toronto police's marine unit will create a bubble zone around Hanlan's Beach as a pilot project this summer to improve safety for swimmers, kayakers and paddleboarders.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us