Saskatchewan First Nation to host two-spirit powwow: ‘This needs to happen,’ organizer says – Toronto Star

June 14, 2019

EDMONTON–A Saskatchewan First Nation is rallying around its two-spirit community for a historic powwow that will draw Indigenous people from across the Prairies.

Organizers say the Saturday event at Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation, near Saskatoon, will be the first two-spirit powwow to take place on a First Nation reserve in Canada.

“I think we are at a place where our elders and our knowledge keepers and our community members are recognizing that this needs to happen,” said Jack Saddleback, a lead organizer who describes himself as an “out and proud” Cree, two-spirit, transgender, gay man.

“If we’re not stepping forward and being very open and visible in our acceptance of gender and sexual diversity, we’re simply just perpetuating violence against our own people by being quiet about it.”

Read More: https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/06/14/saskatchewan-first-nation-to-host-two-spirit-powwow-this-needs-to-happen-organizer-says.html