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Two-Spirit Pride Flag

Two-Spirit speculative fiction is a genre of literature and media that explores themes of gender identity and cultural perspectives through the lens of Indigenous traditions and futuristic or alternate realities. The genre offers Indigenous authors and readers a chance to express, reclaim, and reshape their narratives while questioning conventional views on gender and culture through fictional stories. The emergence of Two-Spirit speculative fiction can be understood in the context of queer liteature's broader landscape. This includes its efforts to challenge heteronormative narratives and enhance representation within the LGBTQ+ community.

The term 'Two-Spirit' refers to transgender or non-binary individuals from Indigenous and Native American tribes. It was coined in 1990 by Indigiqueer/Two-Spirit people to replace the term 'berdache,' which marginalized those with non-traditional gender and sexual identities in Indigenous communities. In recent years, Two-Spirit identity has become more visible in speculative fiction, especially in literature and film.

Two-Spirit rally in Denver

Queer Identity

Colonialism, especially in the western world, has a long-standing record of erasing or marginalizing indigenous people's identities throughout the history of western expansion up to the modern day. The European colonial powers often imposed their own cultural norms and values onto native peoples, which was done to supplant or replace the indigenous culture that previously thrived. This erasure and replacement included views and mores on queer identities, where men and women were expected to conform to specific and narrow gender roles within societal constraints. This binary expectation on the population easily meant shame and derision were brought to anyone, including indigenous peoples, who dressed or acted in manners not conducive to the established system.

In numerous indigenous tribes, the term "two-spirit" connotes a person who embodies both male and female archetypes or "spirits", resulting in a balance or mixture of gender expression. By embracing their culture, language, and spiritual connection, two-spirit individuals can have a more profound connection to their authentic selves. Additionally, they are regarded as higher beings in their communities.

The concept of "two-spirit" identity can be utilized to assert sovereignty, as it symbolizes a contemporary interpretation of a longstanding element of Native American heritage, even if the term itself operates as a catch-all within indigenous communities or tribes that may have their own specific term for third-gender or non-binary gender roles. By incorporating Two-Spirit characters and themes into speculative fiction, indigenous authors are reclaiming their cultural heritage and challenging dominant narratives that have historically silenced and marginalized their voices.

Two-Spirit Literature

Speculative literature within the Two-Spirit community explores the intersectionality of identity, culture, and queerness, and has the potential to inspire and empower readers to do the same. Often these works attempt to imagine futures and worlds, either in reality or fantastical, in which colonialism may have never happened or happened differently with varying outcomes. Two-Spirit literature is underscored by a common theme of optimism and hope for the future, standing in contrast with the dark history of indigenous peoples in the Americas that is punctuated by destruction and genocide.

Recognition of Two-Spirit literature and media by the broader literary community - which can include both academic review as well as mainstream reading audiences - provides a platform for the indigenous queer community, who are often marginalized and overlooked in mainstream media, to share their stories and experiences. According to research, "Current conceptions of queerness equate queer with white, and actively work to harm Indigenous queer - "Indigiqueer" - and Two-Spirit identities that defy Western labels." In other words, associating queerness largely or solely with white experiences erases the unique struggles and life experiences of indigenous queer individuals. The presence of Two-Spirit speculative fiction challenges this erasure by centering indigenous queer voices and experiences, creating a space for their stories to be seen, heard, and read by others.

Examples of Two-Spirit Literature by Two-Spirit Authors:

1. Love after the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction by Joshua Whitehead
2. Asegi Stories: Cherokee Queer and Two-Spirit Memory by Qwo-Li Driskill
3. Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
4. To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
5. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
6. Mohawk Trail by Beth Brant
7. Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway
8. Drowning in Fire by Craig S. Womack

Two-Spirit Media

Speculative media created by Two-Spirit individuals is characterized by its ability to challenge existing power structures and norms, as well as to envision and create new possibilities for gender and cultural identities. There, of course, is an on-going relationship between written and audio/visual media within the Two-Spirit community, and themes and adaptations exist between them.

Examples of Two-Spirit Media by Two-Spirit Directors:

1. "Drunktown's Finest" by Sydney Freeland
2. "Two Spirits" by Lydia Nibley

Two-Spirit Themes

Themes of Two-Spirit literature and media often revolve around identity, spirituality, and the intersectionality of indigenous and queer experiences, and their significance in a world that has often sought to suppress them.

Two-Spirit Characters

Characters in Two-Spirit literature and media are often complex and multifaceted, reflecting the rich diversity within the indigenous queer community. In these stories, Two-Spirit characters navigate the challenges of reconciling their cultural identities with their queer identities, while also contending with the external pressures of colonialism, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

By incorporating Two-Spirit characters and themes into speculative fiction, indigenous authors are reclaiming their cultural heritage and challenging dominant narratives that have historically silenced and marginalized their voices.

Two Spirit Speculative Fiction and Decolonization

Speculative fiction has been a vital medium for Two-Spirit authors to express their creativity and connect with readers through their stories. These stories often explore the concept of utopia, where people live in ideal worlds beyond the limits of our current reality. Two-Spirit authors use their writing to assert their independence from settler counter-parts and envision a better future for themselves and their communities.

Through their writing, these authors shed light on the harsh realities that queer indigenous people face in modern times, including systemic oppression, loss of native language, and cultural and sexual identity. They use their stories to break away from the colonial way of thinking about sex, gender, and cultural identity, and instead offer a unique perspective that challenge the social norms that were implemented by colonial settlers.

By imagining worlds where people live on other planets, dimensions, and realities in both the past and present, Two-Spirit authors allow readers to explore the endless possibilities of the human experience.

References

Driskill, Qwo-Li, et al., editors. Sovereign Erotics: A Collection of Two-Spirit Literature. Tucson, The University of Arizona Press, 2011. —. Queer Indigenous Studies: Critical Interventions in Theory, Politics, and Literature. Tucson, The University of Arizona Press, 2011. Martinez, Monica ( 2022-05-01)” Decolonizing Queer Advocacy: Two Spirit Futurism and Importance of Indigenous Speculative Fiction”