About Us

Our organization began in 1986 in Winnipeg, when a group of concerned community members came together to support each other and plan community events for our 2Spirit relatives. 

After many years of small-scale community support, we became a non-profit organization in September 2007.  Two-Spirited People of Manitoba is a community-based organization that focusses on helping 2Spirit & Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ holistically improve their circumstances. We currently do this by providing awareness workshops, advocating to prevent homo/trans phobia and other forms of discrimination, hosting community events, as well as collaborating and partnering with other organizations and initiatives to enhance their services.

  The first Native American Gay and Lesbian gathering was held in Minneapolis in the summer of 1988. It was decided then that future gatherings would be held in natural spaces as opposed to urban centres. Since then we have travelled across North American to honour Two-Spirit people in their traditional territories. In this way, we reclaim our sacred roles and spaces.

 The term, Two-Spirit, was introduced at the third annual international LGBT Native American gathering in 1990. Elder Myra Laramee shared the name and it was quickly adopted as a spirit-name. Today, Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ and Two-Spirit are terms chosen by some Indigenous people to describe an aspect of their identity. 

2Spirit Manitoba is an organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of 2Spirit (Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ People).

 Spirit Name

Our Spirit Name, 2Spirits Walking Gently was given to us by Elder Charlotte Nolin. This name will guide us in our work as we grow and engage with communities across Manitoba.