2006 MONTANA TWO-SPIRIT GATHERING

The Montana Two-Spirit Gathering is a weekend retreat for Native American Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, their partners, family and friends. The gathering will provide a safe, healthy, drug and alcohol free environment. It's purpose is to encourage all people to heal the damage wrought by racism, sexism, ageism and homophobia and the negative impacts these have on health.

As in past gatherings, as part of the closing ceremony there will be a giveaway. Please bring a small gift for the giveaway.

WHEN: September 22 - 24, 2006

WHO: Native American Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, their partners, family and friends.

WHERE: Swan Valley Area

REGISTRATION: Registration required
Call FDH & Associates @ 888.713.4683 to register or email fdh@mtgayhealth.org.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: August 5

For more information please contact:
FDH & Associates - fdh@mtgayhealth.org

Two-Spirit Article about 2005 Gathering

2005 MONTANA TWO-SPIRIT GATHERING A SUCCESS
By Debra Williams (Ojibwe), Native Women Action Director

Banners from four different Two Spirit Groups greeted participants of Montana’s 8th Annual Two Spirit Gathering. Started as a retreat for Native gay and bisexual men focusing on HIV prevention and education, this gathering has expanded to include family members and Two Spirit people from other regions as support for this group.

David Herrera, of FDH and Associates, began organizing these retreats in 1997 when additional funding allowed him to expand from one general retreat to six, each serving a specific community. Having the planning committee be made up of members of the target community was essential to the community building goal of these retreats. The planning committee for the Two Spirit gatherings were drawn from Montana’s seven reservations as well as the town areas. Because of the importance of family and community with Native people, these retreats are more inclusive than the other retreats offered by FDH and Associates.

A planning committee member for the Montana Two Spirit Gathering, Steven Barrios lives on his reservation in Browning, MT. In addition to his work on this committee Steven also runs the Blackfoot Two Spirit Society in Browning. About the gatherings he says “They’ve been needed. We’re getting our culture back that was taken from us so many years ago. There is a lot of healing- not just physically, but emotionally.” Steven has seen the Montana gathering change dramatically over the years he has been involved. In part this is because of support from people outside the area and the International Two Spirit Gatherings (ITSG). Montana hosted the 2004 ITSG with the Northwest Two Spirit Society.

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2005 Montana Two-Spirit article continued...

Many of the outstate participants came as presenters and found support at this as well as other gatherings. Kory Montoya, of New Mexico POZ Coalition of Albuquerque, presented the workshop, ‘Living Positively’. Like many Two Spirit people, Kory lost family support because they could not accept him as a gay man. He attends these gatherings because “I find support and love in the people I meet as family.” John Hawk Co’cke presented the Two Spirit History workshop, in which he talked about some of the roles Two Spirit people held in the past as well as a slide show of historical and present day pictures of Two Spirit men and women. A member of the Osage Nation and an Oklahoma resident, John sees a lot of work to be done. Many Native people in Oklahoma feel that their Christian beliefs prevent them from accepting Two Spirit people. Many Two Spirit people cannot or do not want to be open about their sexuality. There is a focus on the bar scene, and people engaging in risk behaviors. Five years ago, when he became coordinator of the Tulsa Two Spirit Society, John started a local Two Spirit Gathering where it was possible to be open in a safe environment. These gatherings have grown to include many Two Spirit men and women. John credits this growth to the many Two Spirit groups that have formed across the U.S. and Canada. The internet is also an important way that the Two Spirit community keeps a dialogue going.

Some of the functions at this local gathering were drawn from the International Two Spirit Gatherings, begun in Minneapolis 18 years ago. Many people gather around the beading table to get help on projects they are working on or just to talk. There is usually a fire that is kept burning and is attended to by gathering participants. The Talent Show has featured performances of everything from country music karaoke to comedy acts.

One of the events of the local as well as the International Two Spirit Gatherings is the powwow. For the Denver Two Spirit Society, which counts many powwow dancers among its members, this is one of the highlights of the Gathering. Joey Criddle, Jicarilla Apache, appreciates the cultural aspects of the gathering: “We know there are gay people all over the world. We can go out to the bar anytime we want to and be around all the gay people we want. But when you go to these gatherings, you know that there is someone else there that smudges, there is someone else that prays like I pray, there is someone else there that dances like I dance, that sings these songs.”