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The North Coast Two-Spirit Project (NC2SP) is a project of reconciliation.
The North Coast Two-Spirit Project (NC2SP) is a project of reconciliation.
Two-Spirit community members, Native community members, LGBTQ community members, settlers, and allies collaborate on this project with a focus on nourishing Native Sovereignty and Two-Spirit leadership with a common goal: creating brighter futures for our Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer relatives on the northwest coast of Turtle Island and beyond. We acknowledge that every member of our community has a role to play in healing the damage done by colonialism, and that we all benefit when Two-Spirit people thrive.
Two-Spirit community members, Native community members, LGBTQ community members, settlers, and allies collaborate on this project with a focus on nourishing Native Sovereignty and Two-Spirit leadership with a common goal: creating brighter futures for our Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer relatives on the northwest coast of Turtle Island and beyond. We acknowledge that every member of our community has a role to play in healing the damage done by colonialism, and that we all benefit when Two-Spirit people thrive.
The work of NC2SP is done through centering, nourishing and uplifting Two-Spirit voices, engaging in policy advocacy, cultivating supportive environments for Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer youth and adults, facilitating affirming intergenerational knowledge transference, supporting Native cultural revitalization efforts, enhancing public education on who and what is Two-Spirit as well as LGBTQ+ vocabulary/key concepts, providing technical support for Native-led governments and organizations seeking to decolonize gender/sexual orientation in the context of Indigenous culture, and co-producing an annual North Coast Two-Spirit Conference in collaboration with Two Feathers NAFS and the Wiyot Tribe.
The work of NC2SP is done through centering, nourishing and uplifting Two-Spirit voices, engaging in policy advocacy, cultivating supportive environments for Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer youth and adults, facilitating affirming intergenerational knowledge transference, supporting Native cultural revitalization efforts, enhancing public education on who and what is Two-Spirit as well as LGBTQ+ vocabulary/key concepts, providing technical support for Native-led governments and organizations seeking to decolonize gender/sexual orientation in the context of Indigenous culture, and co-producing an annual North Coast Two-Spirit Conference in collaboration with Two Feathers NAFS and the Wiyot Tribe.
We offer our thanks to Wiyot tribal leadership, Blue Lake Rancharia's Tribal Education Department, the KTJUSD Rainbow Task Force, Two-Feathers NAFS, the Two-Spirit Dry Lab, and countless community partners for breathing life into this project and being ongoing partners in the work.
We offer our thanks to Wiyot tribal leadership, Blue Lake Rancharia's Tribal Education Department, the KTJUSD Rainbow Task Force, Two-Feathers NAFS, the Two-Spirit Dry Lab, and countless community partners for breathing life into this project and being ongoing partners in the work.
Interested in getting involved?
Email NC2SP@QueerHumboldt.org
with the subject "Getting involved: North Coast Two-Spirit Project"
Happy Two-Spirit Celebration and Appreciation Day from Wiyot Land
Spring Equinox 2025!
Two-Spirit Day is a growing movement that started in Canada and is now celebrated internationally. It takes place annually on the Spring Equinox (March 20th in 2025, 2026 and 2027).
You can join the movement by hosting a Two-Spirit event, taking time to learn about Two-Spirit people historically and in contemporary times, and/or posting on social media.
Below is a social media toolkit for use by people and organizations interested in uplifting this growing holiday.
General information:
Learn more about Two-Spirit here and here
Learn about the Wiyot Tribe's commitment to Gou Rrugulu's:
http://www.wiyot.us/367/Gou-Rrugulus
Here is the video of Harlan Pruden and the Two-Spirit Dry Lab's talk from Friday, Oct, 21st, 2022 at HUUF in Bayside.
Two-Spirit people have always been here and Two-Spirit activism has been an ongoing presence across time, but this talk ignited what has become a Two-Spirit resurgence here on the redwood coast. Since this talk, the movement that has grown, and grown, and grown.
One year after this talk, Queer Humboldt partnered with Two-Feathers to host the first regional Two-Spirit conference. One year later, the Wiyot Tribe joined as a cohost for the second annual conference, making it an official Wiyot event. This first Two-Spirit Teachings talk was a pivotal moment for Two-Spirit resurgence on the Redwood Coast and, thanks to Access Humboldt recording it, is a lasting educational resource for our community and beyond.
Upcoming Events:
Stay tuned! We have an upcoming Two-Spirit art group starting soon and the Rainbow Extravaganza will take place in Hoopa at the end of May/beginning of June.
Past Trainings, Media and Events:
Two-Spirit Celebration and Appreciation Day became an INTERNATIONAL holiday last year when the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, followed by the Cities of Arcata and Eureka, all made proclamations (the first such proclamations in the USA).
This year Queer Humboldt is delighted to take it up a notch, partnering with Northern California Indian Development Council, to bring four days of events leading up to the holiday which takes place on the Spring Equinox.
All of the events are offered to the community at no charge and are open to Native and Non-Native Community, Families, Youth, LGBTQIA+ people, Allies, and Care-providers.
With special guests like Harlan Pruden (Cree) and Ms. International Two-Spirit Ahyoka Youngdeer (Cherokee), these events are not to be missed.
Come learn, eat, and be part of the exciting movement celebrating Two-Spirit resurgence in our local region and beyond!
Photo of one of our Queer Humboldt youth leaders at the Two-Spirit Youth Drop In Art Group. This group is lead by Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer youth and is for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer youth.
On March 12th, 2024, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors became the first government entity in the USA to proclaim Two-Spirit Day of Appreciation and Celebration. The holiday is already recognized across various communities in Canada, including all of British Columbia.
Pictured below: Wiyot Tribal Administrator, Michelle Vassel, speaks at the County Supervisor's meeting 3/12/24, accepting the proclamation of Two-Spirit Day along with a Two-Spirit youth from Hoopa High.
Below that is another photo of community members with the proclamation after the historic proclamation.
On March 9th, 2024, we held a vigil in Old Town Eureka for Nex Benedict, the Oklahoma teenager who died following bullying in school that culminated in an assault in a school bathroom. Nex died the next day.
A video of the Eureka vigil can be viewed here:
In February, 2024, we traveled to SF for the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) Powwow. We took high school students from Hoopa Valley High, Arcata High and Eureka High, as well as college students from Cal Poly Humboldt and a range of community members.
Here is a video about our experience:
(below) Photos from March 31st, 2023 -
Hoopa High students participate in the National March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy
Photo from the June, 2022 Two-Feathers Rainbow Extravaganza.
In October 2022, the Two-Spirit Dry Lab had their first visit to Wiyot and Hupa Land. It was the beginning of a new chapter of local Two-Spirit Resurgence.
Many of the current events and achievements can be traced back to this event series.
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