June 2021 | Issue 5
Welcome!
Each month, our Spirit-Honor-Inclusion newsletter will share current information with our tribal communities and Native Connections grantees related to Two Spirit and LGBTQ topics. Each issue will highlight resources, articles, and news or events, plus a featured guest contributor. This month our guest contributor is Jacqueline Gray, a research associate professor for the Department of Population Health and the associate director of Center for Rural Health for Indigenous programs at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Gray is principal investigator and director of the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative, and is also principal investigator of the National Center on Elder Abuse subcontract on Indigenous Elder Abuse Projects and the American Association of Retired Persons-sponsored Indigenous Elder Abuse Services Survey. Her work provides the theme of this newsletter: Supporting Our Two Spirit Relatives.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Two Spirit Elderly
By Jacqueline S. Gray, PhD

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is held each year on June 15. WEAAD began in 2006 with the support of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization of the United Nations. When the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), the national resource center for Indigenous elder abuse prevention, was established in 2011, it began encouraging WEAAD events in Indian Country in 2012. Numerous tribes have begun offering WEAAD activities, whether on June 15 or with elder abuse prevention conferences sometime during the year. Since 2012, NIEJI has co-sponsored WEAAD events with many tribes on WEAAD and other times during the year. We broke new trails in 2012 by live casting a half-day of speakers on elder abuse over the internet. Last year with the pandemic and shut down all over the country, NIEJI presented a WEAAD panel on Facebook which subsequently had hundreds of shares and views within the week.

Over the past 10 years, I have often described working on elder abuse prevention in Indian Country as the adage of “How do you eat an elephant?” but it is more like “How do you eat a whole herd of stampeding elephants?” When NIEJI began in 2011, there were not any resources on elder abuse that were culturally relevant for U.S. Indigenous people living in tribal communities or urban areas, and only 40 of the 565 federally recognized tribes at the time had elder abuse codes. Additionally, training was not available for U.S. Indigenous communities to develop tribal codes, increase awareness of elder abuse, or develop models for elder abuse prevention programs. Today we have culturally informed resources, trainings, and continue to develop materials as our communities need them. But there is still a great need to understand the risk and protective factors and identifying interventions that effectively prevent abuse. 
In Two Spirit Kinship: Allies During Pride Month and Beyond
Each month, a Two Spirit ally reflects on their journey of learning from our Two Spirit relatives.
Courtney McCusker
Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center

For a community, pride could be defined as confidence and self-respect expressed by individuals who share similar identities, cultures, or experiences. Two Spirit and LBTQ pride means positive acceptance of one’s self on an individual level as well as a sense of honor in belonging to the greater Two Spirit community. Demonstrating pride in everyday life can be more than a celebration; it is a way of protesting the injustices, violence, and inequities many in the TSLGBTQ community continue to face.

What is Pride Month?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently honored in June each year to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising. LGBTQ Pride Month celebrations might include parades, gatherings, workshops, concerts, and memorials. The purpose of Pride Month is to recognize the impact LGBTQ individuals have had on history, celebrate their ongoing contributions to society, and honor those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS.

How can you help celebrate Pride Month and be an ally all year long?
As allies, we can participate in Pride Month festivities during June but we can do more than just show up for Pride. The Stonewall riots were a form of active resistance- while Pride Month is celebratory, it should always center the community’s struggle and resilience, and we should keep the issues that impact the Two Spirit community in the forefront all year long. Here are some ways to put ally-ship into action:
  • Shop at Two Spirit-owned small business and/or donate to nonprofits. There are many national organizations that work on behalf of the Two Spirit and LGBTQ community, but it’s often most impactful to donate locally.
  • Contribute your time to TSLGBTQ organizations and causes. You might research Two Spirit organizations in your own community or tribes to support.
  • Vote for for tribal, local, state, and national candidates who recognize and prioritize the needs of the TSLGBTQ community in their platforms and legislative priorities. Supporting funding for community resources (such as libraries, local community centers, and mobile health clinics) that are TSLGBTQ-inclusive can also be impactful.
  • Listen to, uplift, and center TSLGTBQ voices and demands for change. Continuing to show up where asked is a powerful kind of support for real, lasting change.
  • Confront your own biases, do not take offense if someone corrects you, and don’t make assumptions about people (give them the space they need). Part of being a good ally is remaining open-minded and being willing to learn and change.
  • Have open and honest conversations, speak out against anti-TSLGTBQ jokes and sentiments, and defend your friends against discrimination when you see it - even if/especially when it’s uncomfortable!
  • Read Two Spirit writers, support To Spirit artists, and amplify Two Spirit experiences. Stories are powerful - don’t support misrepresentations of Two Spirit people in the media.

Happy Pride Month!
Pride does not exist only in the month of June – you can support the Two Spirit community all year long!

Listed below are various TSLGBTQ organizations and resources to check out during Pride Month and beyond:
Check out Mr. Pruden's 2S Question Guide to Navigate 2021 PRIDE Season in Two Spirit Journal.
2S Question Guide to Navigate 2021 PRIDE Season
Harlan Pruden, First Nation Cree, works with and for the Two Spirit community locally, nationally, and internationally. He is an educator at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control's Chee Mamuk program (an Indigenous public health initiative) and is also the Managing Editor of the online Two Spirit Journal.
Two Spirit Perspectives on Pride Month
Perspectives on LGBTQ Native Americans in Traditional Culture

For Pride Month 2020, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian invited Native friends to share what they understand about how LGBTQ people were regarded in their traditional culture. Read the blog post here.
Organization Spotlight - Healthy Native Youth
Indigenizing Love: A Toolkit for Native Youth to Build Inclusion 

In response to requests from Native youth, a collective of partners created this toolkit to support Native youth and those who engage them to better understand and support Two Spirit and LGBTQ communities.

Download the toolkit here.
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board has a Two Spirit and LGBTQ Health page that contains resources for youth, clinic providers, and allies. Bookmark this 2SLGBTQ treasure trove of a website on your web browser!
TSLGBTQ Print Materials: Pronouns, Sexual & Gender Identity

The #1 topic of importance to native youth and young adults today is identity – cultural, sexual and gender - so why should pronouns matter to you? Because they matter to them. The use of correct name and pronouns is associated with decreased depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior in trans youth.

Resource Videos on Identity, Terminology and Ways to Support Identities

Learn from Shaquita L Bell, MD (Cherokee), interim medical director for Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and the medical director of the Center for Health Equity and Diversity at Seattle Children’s:
Healthy Native Youth Community of Practice

Healthy Native Youth offers virtual Community of Practice gatherings the second Wednesday of every month at 10-11:30 a.m. Pacific. Sessions include new resources and opportunities to engage with Native professionals in the field n various topics. The community shares their strengths and experiences about how they will improve the lives of Native youth.

Visit the Healthy Native Youth Community of Practice page for more information and dates of upcoming sessions.
Current Alaska HIV Data Now Available

The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) recently published an Alaska HIV surveillance report with reported infection data spanning from 1982-2020. The ‘HIV Surveillance Report – Alaska, 1982-2020’ document indicates 2,026 cumulative cases from 1982-2020 and 30 newly diagnosed HIV cases from 2020. Review the report for comprehensive data to inform your HIV support and prevention outreach efforts.

ANTHC offers many preventative health services and programs to elevate the health status of Alaska Native families and communities. Learn more about the wellness resources at https://anthc.org/what-we-do/wellness/.
Healthy Native Youth
In observance of Pride Month, Healthy Native Youth is sharing some diverse and inclusive resources to help deliver Two Spirit and LGBTQ health programming to youth, virtually and in-person.
Celebrating Our Magic

The Celebrating Our Magic guide is a culturally-specific resource for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and provides resources for transgender and Two Spirit youth, their relatives, and their healthcare providers.

Download the guide here.
Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Community Readiness Survey

A community assessment planning tool to strategically integrate the voice, expertise, and resources from all community members to improve the health and well-being of TSLGBTQ youth.

There's Heart Here Documentary
Follow three indigenous members of the Two Spirit and LGBTQ community as they journey toward self-acceptance, supportive healthcare, and communities that celebrate them. Watch here: There’s Heart Here 
Two Spirit Talks Podcast
2SLGBTQ+ people seeking stories and wisdom that reflect collective experiences. Listen each month to hear directly from the 2SLGBTQ+ native community about ceremony, song, solidarity, and how listeners can build on the diverse teachings of our pasts to create a queer Indigenous future. Listen here: Two Spirit Talks Podcast
2SLGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Posters and Print Materials
Two Spirit LGBTQ+ suicide prevention materials are available from NPAIHB for your local setting. Click to view and download the assortment of suicide prevention posters and print materials. 
NPAIHB Resolution Passes ATNI - 2sLGBTQ Strategic Vision and Action Plan

The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians passed resolutions to support Trans Gender-Affirming Care in IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health Facilities with a 2021 Strategic Vision and Action Plan. The resolution will be forwarded to the National Congress of Americans for consideration.

Download the resolution and Strategic Plan: NPAIHB Resolution 21-03-11 with Strategic Vision and Action Plan.
National HIV Testing Day is June 27

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual observance to encourage people of all ages to get tested for HIV and to know their status. Support for expanded HIV testing has commenced in Indian Country and Alaska. Many tribal healthcare facilities are promoting and raising awareness of HIV testing.
To learn more as well as culturally appropriate print materials for HIV testing, click HIV – NPAIHB and for Alaska, click iKnowmine for free STI self-test kit!
Text Messaging Campaign Tools
To be effective, health and wellness interventions must reflect the cultural values, social contexts, and health epistemologies of Native teens and young adults. Culturally tailored interventions are critically needed to increase the degree to which health messages are perceived as personally relevant by AI/ANs, to inspire and support behavior change. Here are a few text messaging campaigns as tools – Sign Up!
2SLGBTQ Instagram – Like and follow to bring you info & resources!
Paths (Re)membered Project
The Paths (Re)Membered Project centers the Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ community–its strengths, resiliencies, and histories—in our movement toward health equity. Through community engagement, research, and advocacy, we work toward a liberated 2SLGBTQ+ future, which includes the memories of Two Spirit ancestors, the wisdom of our elders, and the creativity of our young people. 
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The views, opinions, and content expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views, policies, and positions of the Center for Mental Health Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.​