Two-Spirit Identity and Indigenous Conceptualization of Gender and Sexuality: Implications for Nursing Practice

Abstract

The word Two-Spirit is an umbrella term that is used to describe Indigenous peoples who are diverse in terms of their sexual orientation and gender identity, though community-specific definitions and roles for gender and sexual orientation are more extensive and varied. While the terminology of Two-Spirit is recent in its development, Indigenous conceptualizations of diverse gender identities, roles, and sexual orientations have existed since time immemorial and provide important insights into how cultural safety can be incorporated into caring practices. The purpose of this article is to introduce readers to the term Two-Spirit and to provide a broad overview of Indigenous conceptualizations of gender, sexuality, and spirit, to address implications for the nursing profession, and to outline potential applications of this knowledge in practice.