English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

Traditionally, it was the women who ensured the
language, customs and beliefs were passed on through
the generations.
Many Aboriginal cultures were women-centred and
matrilineal. A child’s ancestry was traced through
his/her mother, and the family property was passed
down through the female line.
Women played a key role in identifying which men
would assume leadership roles. They would watch
children in their development to identify their
strengths and ability to assume leadership roles. In
the Teaching Lodge of Life, the women of the lodge
determined who would be the head chief for the
different tasks that were required. In some First Nation
communities, these responsibilities continue where the
traditional governance structures are maintained.
THE ROLE OF MEN
Men are often described as providers and protectors.
In some Aboriginal communities, men were also
described as “warriors” as they were the defenders of
the community. Like the women, men had very specific
roles and responsibilities.
Self-discipline played a large part in the level of success
a man held in the community.
TWO-SPIRITED PEOPLE
Adapted from www.2spirits.com
Many Aboriginal cultures recognized homosexuals as
people who were described as “two-spirited” or in the
direct translation from the Ojibway term, Niizh
manidoowag, “one who simultaneously house both the
male and female spirit.” Other cultures described a twospirited
person as “one who is transformed” or “one who
changes.” According to a social work project at the
University of McGill, traditionally, the Two-spirited
person was one who had received a gift from the
Creator: That gift being the privilege to house both male
and female spirits in their bodies.
Each child is recognized as having a unique
talent or special gifts. It is up to each of us to
help children to explore and discover these
talents and gifts. There is something for
everyone to learn from the experience of failure.
Listening, respect, and self-respect are
considered qualities that need to be taught to
children and youth to help them to survive in
both worlds, to survive in both the Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal worlds of today.
- Edge & McCallum, 2006
All of the women were taught to contribute
to the family household at an early age. Each
took pride in learning how to sew. Lessons
taught by their mothers and grandmothers
included “never give up,” “believe in yourself,”
“forgive and forget,” “give with a good
heart,” and, “if you can’t say anything nice,
don’t say anything at all.” It is with great
pride today if a person can say they “walk
their talk.” - Edge & McCallum, 2006
The role of males in our communities was
one of protectors. They have lost that role
and have learned other lessons of how to be
a man: often negative stereotypes.
- Focus group participant
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
(2 Spirits) is a non-profit social service
organization whose membership consists
of Aboriginal 2-Spirit (commonly known
as Aboriginal lesbian, intersexed, gay,
bisexual and transgendered) people in
North America. The organization is based in
Toronto.
Two-spirited people have been “documented in over 130
tribes, in every region of North America, among every type of native culture.” In some
tribes, two-spirited people held specific roles including healers or medicine people,
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