A conversation about two-spirit, indigenous identities [Video]

Siihasin Hope. A proud Native American with a big passion for culture.”My great-grandmother, who helped raise me, was 109 and a really traditional Diné person,” they said.Hope identifies as a two-spirit person and uses they/them pronouns. According to the Indian Health Service, a two-spirit person is a male-bodied or female-bodied person with a masculine or feminine essence. Two-spirits can also cross social gender roles, gender expression, and sexual orientation.”I’m intersex, and oftentimes, I’m perceived as a woman,” they said. “Biologically, I have really high testosterone levels.”Hope added, their body functions a bit differently. They don’t have menstrual cycles and may not be able to have children. “We don’t assign gender. We actually allow people to take up those roles, however they identify themselves,” they said.In Diné culture, this is also called nadleeh. The term loosely translates to “one in a constant state of change”.”My people will recognize me, often times. …