#MembertouFirstNation connects with #Pride #CapeBreton on deeper level

'As traditional people we know how it feels to go underground and have our ceremonies hidden,' says Jeff Ward

CBC · Posted: Aug 09, 2019

"As #PrideCapeBreton winds down, some people on the #Membertou First Nation say the community's large presence in the festivities is a natural fit.

"This year, Membertou hosted the popular #DragQueenBingo event, the Membertou pedway was lit up in Pride colours, the flags at the #MembertouHeritagePark were swapped for #LGBTQ flags and there was a Membertou float in the #PrideParade.

"Jeff Ward, manager of the heritage park, said participating in Pride events is something the community connects with.

"' 'As traditional people, we know how it feels to go underground and have our ceremonies hidden,' he said, pointing to how revisions in the Indian Act in 1951 removed a ban on ceremonies.

A personal connection

"Andrea Dennis works at the heritage park. She said staff secured #TwoSpirit flags for the first time and people have been snapping them up.

"Two-spirit is a term sometimes used by #IndigenousPeople to describe #gay, #lesbian, #transgender or #NonBinary people. The flag has two feathers on top of the traditional rainbow pattern.

"Dennis said her brother, who is dead, was two-spirit. She said when he first came out, he was harassed. Her brother moved to Toronto, but he was still harassed.

"She believes things have changed for the better.

" 'His spirit is still alive in me,' said Dennis. 'Even going to a Pride parade reminds me of him, it's like he's still there.' "

Read more:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/pride-cape-breton-membertou-1.5241873

#IndigenousPeoples #IndigenousPeoplesDay #CapeBretonNS #FirstNations #LGTBQRights #IndigenousRights #LGBTQNativeAmericans #HumanRights

Analysis: How #AntiTransLaws jeopardize #IndigenousPeoples’ rights, religious expression

by Rosalyn St Pierre, Jun 15, 2023

"In April [2023], Montana’s Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte became one of the latest to sign several new anti-transgender laws, including one that will prevent gender-affirming medical care for minors.

"One thing these new laws do not take into account is that the 12 federally recognized tribes in Montana have historically recognized multiple gender identities, including transgender identities. Most Indigenous peoples recognize multiple gender identities that are believed to be the result of supernatural intervention.

"In this regard, Montana state Rep. Donavon Hawk, a Democrat from Butte who is Crow and Lakota, said, 'It surprises me that this country is only a couple hundred years old, and we are not able to function with #LGBTQ people in our communities.' Indigenous communities have incorporated LGBTQ+ peoples within their societies for centuries.

"As an Indigenous scholar who studies the history and religion of Indigenous peoples, I am troubled by how these new anti-transgender laws might affect religious expression and the rights of Indigenous communities, not just in Montana but across the nation."

Read more:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/analysis-how-anti-trans-laws-jeopardize-indigenous-peoples-rights-religious-expression

#IndigenousPeoplesDay #LGBTQNativeAmericans #TwoSpirits #TwoSpirit #transgender #LGBTQRights #HumanRights

#IndigenousPeoples’ Day: #LGBTQ+ films, TV shows, and docs to watch

Bernardo Sim, Mon, October 13, 2025

"Hollywood has had a long history of excluding Indigenous peoples from mainstream media — often turning real stories and individuals into senseless caricatures that are more widely understood by the general public.

"Thankfully, several young #Indigenous writers, directors, actors, musicians, and performance artists have been actively fighting back in recent years to reclaim narratives, be accurately visible, and have ownership of their own stories.

"Though we’re still far from an ideal standard, reflecting on this painful history and looking forward to a more equitable future are great activities to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Below, a list of films, TV shows, and documentaries that center and/or feature LGBTQ+ Indigenous identities."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/indigenous-peoples-day-lgbtq-films-122641012.html

#IndigenousWriters #IndigenousActors #IndigenousDirectors #IndigenousRepresentation #LGBTQNativeAmericans #LGBTQRepresentation #ReservationDogs #Navajo #DrunktownsFinest #RutherfordFalls #CertainWomen #Wildwood #TwoSpirits #Annishaabe #Firesong