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Two Spirits
Just wondering if anyone else saw the documentary on NITV a couple of nights ago called “Two Spirits”. It was extremely interesting and tragic. About the murder of a 16 year old Navajo Indian in 2001 but also discussed the nádleehé or gender variant individuals in the navajo as well as in other tribes. These individuals were revered in the community. It made me feel more comfortable about myself. It is showing for free on 6th JUly 2014 at Sydney Opera House or you can download it at itunes. I can’t recommend it enough. Excellent eye opening doco. 😯
Also on their website at http://twospirits.org/additional-resources/ there is an excellent world map showing societies around the world that have their own long established traditions for third, fourth, fifth or more genders. Fascinating stuff. -
3 Replies
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I did not see the documentary but have been studying the North American indigenous two-spirit culture for some time now. According to the records available, two-spirits were recognised and revered in 155 tribes across North America. Some tribes did not assign gender until children reached the ages of 5 to 7 when they would be asked to make a choice between a basket or a bow (or both). Before that age they would be referred to simply as “child”.
Two spirits were considered superior because they embraced both male and female genders and assumed many important roles as carers, healers, historians, and other special duties. It took the white man and his sanctimonious missionaries to poison the whole social structure, but with renewed enlightenment the two-spirit culture is being revived.
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I read the Walter L. Williams book almost 20 years ago when the anthropological name “Berdache” was just dropping out of favour to be replaced by “two spirits”. This name is organic, ancient, and far from the endless classification of modern psychological labels designed for social control.
http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Flesh-Diversity-American-Culture/dp/0807046159
http://www.worldpolicy.newschool.edu/wpi/globalrights/sexorient/williams.html
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Very interesting Martina and thanks for those links Linda, I’ll have to get a copy of that book. Please post if anyone knows of any other interesting books on the subject.
