What Families are Dealing With

Two hands making the "ok" sign with a rainbow flag in the background

Tribal communities have specific terms in their own languages for gender-variant members. The term may vary from tribe to tribe, but has some similarities across communities.

Unfortunately, not everyone respects those with two spirits, and often two-spirit tribal members do not feel safe. Two-Spirit youth may be rejected by their families and tribe and may end up in the child welfare system. Alienation from family members and bullying at school may result in isolation.

(IHS.gov)

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How This Affects the Families I Work With

Your case load may include families with Two-spirit individuals. Although in the past, these individuals were honored and respected, this may not be experience of those you may work with. They may feel pain, isolation and fear for their own safety.

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What I Can Do to Build on Family Strengths

  • Provide education and resources to help create a welcoming home.
  • If Two-Spirit youth are placed in foster care, be sure that the home is accepting and supportive. Foster parents or relative placements uncomfortable with Two-Spirit individuals are best to be rigorously honest about their feelings. They need to be mindful that this may not be the right home for the child.
  • Talking to elders is important to find positive places for Two-Spirit people to be involved in their culture.