Before covid-19 I was arranging to attend different events around Turtle Island. 2Spirit gatherings and Indigi-queer hangouts in Montreal, Saskatoon, British Columbia and Alberta. On March 14, all of that went away. The ceremonies. The conferences. Our ability to be one with each other was now altered.

One of these gatherings that was postponed was the 33rd International 2Spirit gathering. It was to be hosted by the Edmonton 2Spirit Society in Edmonton in Treaty 6 Territory – Region 4 Métis Nation of Alberta. I was devastated.

It was the early 2000’s and my father, Ted Syrette of Batchewana First Nation, was working at the band office as the custodian on Rankin Reserve. One day he brought home a computer. After I hooked it up, he told me to turn on the internet. I told him, “that’s not how that works dad.” After explaining it to him, he was like, “what the heck?” When it became affordable, my family got the absolute slowest form of the internet, next to pretending: dial-up.

After learning you need to really be specific when searching online the word, ‘gay’ (Holy Man) I searched the words ‘gay’ and ‘native’. Native was used in my home to describe our family. We were also Indians. And Ojibway, but never Aboriginal. There was nothing abnormal about us. We just were family. Then boom: 2-Spirits/2-Spirit/2-Spirited (The last one I thought was strange, because 2Spirit educator and veteran, Sharp Dopler said ‘transgendered’ or ‘lesbianed’.) all showed up one the computer screen. It did take 20 minutes for the results to load after clicking the mouse, but I was shocked with what I had found. I had found a community, that one day I’d be comfortable enough with myself to call my community.

Mrya Laramee. Albert McLeod. Connie Merasty. Sylvia Maracle. Folks I would one day sit at the table with and learn from. Leaders who started a movement here in Canada, when so many folks were being turned away from their communities. 30 years ago, Dr. Myra Laramee shared her vision of Niizh Manidook to the people at the 3rd international gathering In Beausejour, Manitoba. 2 Spirits. A word that would carry so much meaning for different people.

As a poor brown fag living on the rez, I dreamed of one day making it to these gatherings. But for some reason I forgot about those early internet searches for my people. Abuse, harassment, bullying substance abuse and sex, left me between a bingo hall on my reserve and a bottle. Theatre helped and with storytelling I found a purpose and my voice. A settler, queer producer of a Song of Nanabozhoo, a production with the Garden River Arts Committee, asked me a question, “Teddy, do you know of the term ‘2-Spirit’” Addiction impacts memory, and I told her that I didn’t. She said it is a term for Indigenous people who are also gender queer and/or gender fluid or gender non-conforming. This was all new information to me. I was still coming to terms with being Anishnabe and brown.

I began to ask questions to aunty dial-up and soon I found more people. Harlan Prudenof the 2-Spirit Journal. Waawaate Fobister, artist and fabulous being. We’Wha of the Zuni Nation of New Mexico. My Aunt Roseanna McCoy. Different teachings and terms began to cover over me like a blanket.

I had the opportunity to attend 31st 2Spirit Gathering, back in Beausejour, Manitoba in 2018. I met the incredible Gayle Pruden and the fierce Brielle Beardy Linklater. I also met Boyd Whiskeyjack, who is the Executive Director of Edmonton 2Spitit Society. Dr. Mara Laramie was present to offer teachings and a little bit of history into her work and the work of the 2Spirit community. Elder Ma Nee Chacaby made us laugh with stories. The 2Spirit youth were press printing t-shirts for 2Spirit elders and knowledge keepers. There was so much good energy at this gathering. My 2Spirit family grew by like 50 new niblings, aunties and uncles. I got to do some comedy and make people laugh. The words, “I’m an alcoholic” slipped out of my lips for the first time.

The  2018 International 2Spirit gathering was life changing. And the only thing I could think about were the people back at home in Baawaating and Toronto who should also be at this gathering. That even with us 90+ souls present it was a healing place. But we were also privileged to be there. I felt it an honour and felt a great feeling of accountability to return home and do good work. I just wished that this other person was there. Or saying, “I wish so and so were here, maybe next year.” I went back home to Toronto and waited until the next one came to Canada. I knew that I probably didn’t have the resources or capacity to visit the states. So many of my 2Spirit family did, and I was so happy for them, wishing I could also be there. Not just in spirit, but in 2Spirits. Every cheesy, eh? But no, I’m serious. These gatherings are magical.

And I don’t know if a sleeping giant woke up and clicked her ruby slippers, but some magic recently happened. The Edmonton 2Spirit Society, announced that together with partnerships with 2Spirits in Motion Society, Calgary Pride and with assistance from The Enchanté Network and others. E2S announced that the 33rd International 2Spirit Gathering 2020 was going to be a virtual gathering. This includes different panel discussions, breakout sessions and opportunity to brainstorm ideas for next years, hopefully, in person International 2Spirit Gathering.

Some highlights I am looking forward to are the following:

• 2nd Look Engagement Project on MMIWG2S
• History of Resurgence
• 2 Spirit Women and Healing
• Nine Genders Project Presentation
• Indigi-Queer Gayla

There will also be a 30 year celebration of the TwoSpirit term with Elder Myra Laramee on Saturday August 29th. Which I know I’ll be definitely looking for. Primarily I’m looking forward to seeing as many familiar and new faces as possible. Our gatherings, no matter who we gather or who we gather with, is so incredibly important. It is a time for us to share our stories, or struggles and our beauty with each other. I am very thankful that I will see so many family members this weekend. From all over Turtle Island. Covid-19 can not stop our hearts and spirits apart. Our ancestors won’t have it. I hope to see you there this weekend. And if not in this world, then maybe in the next.

Miigwetch.

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