SEASON 2 // EPISODE 2: TWO SPIRITS
/What should the National Parks be talking about?
In June of 2017, Mesa Verde National Park created a Facebook post for LGBTQ Pride Month honoring Two-Spirit people - who have been part of Indigenous culture since the beginning.
This post sparked a big conversation: what should the Parks be talking about on social media?
“A two-spirit person is one who is believed to carry both the male and female spirit; they are believed to see the world through both spirits, both sets of eyes.”
In this episode, we'll hear from Brenda M. Atencio of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo; Kristy Sholly, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Mesa Verde National Park; and Brian Forist, Lecturer in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Human Ecology at Indiana University Bloomington.
Looking for more?
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Mesa Verde National Park LGBTQ Pride Month Facebook Post
In June of 2017, Mesa Verde National Park created a post on their Facebook page to celebrate gender diverse individuals, and to educate the public about a gender diversity in the present-day Pueblos.
Pictured in this post: We'wha, lhamana or Two-Spirit from Zuni in New Mexico; traveled to Washington D.C. as a cultural ambassador in 1886.
Two Spirits, One Heart, Five Genders
Indigenous peoples have recognized more than two genders since time immemorial. To learn more about how different tribes across the North American continent observe and celebrate the Two-Spirits tradition, check out this article from Indian Country Today.
