Two-Spirits' Response to COVID-19: Survey Findings in Atlantic Canada Identify Priorities and Developing Practices

The Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance, a regional Two-Spirit organization, administered an online survey in May of 2020 to identify priorities and concerns of Two-Spirit individuals and Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Atlantic Canada during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The respondents (n =...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational Journal of Indigenous Health Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 14 - 25
Main Authors Sylliboy, John R, Bird, Naomi, Butler, Evan, Perley, Gage, Wilmot, Kehisha
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Victoria Aboriginal Health Research Networks Secretariat (AHRNetS) 01.01.2022
Subjects
Advocacy
Capacity development
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Homophobia
Inuit
Kinship
Medicine
Mental health
Native peoples
Pandemics
Sex discrimination
Society
Two-Spirit
Canada
United States > US
Maine
Nova Scotia Canada
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Summary:The Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance, a regional Two-Spirit organization, administered an online survey in May of 2020 to identify priorities and concerns of Two-Spirit individuals and Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Atlantic Canada during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The respondents (n = 149) shared health concerns including deterioration(s) of mental health (56.32%). They described mental health supports (68.42%), health supports for Two-Spirit individuals (57.89%), healing gatherings (46.05%) and trans-specific supports (44.74%) as interventions in fostering Two-Spirit health. The Alliance's immediate response was to develop community-led responses to address urgent concerns. Our key promising practice has been hosting Two-Spirit gatherings as community-based health/cultural supports; the gatherings also serve as an opportunity for the Alliance to consult the Two-Spirit community about priorities and concerns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance explored ways to keep the TwoSpirit community united by maintaining social support(s). We designed a survey that provided essential feedback, resulting in the Alliance shifting priorities toward developing methods of bringing Two-Spirit people together safely by virtual means; seeking sustainable resources to address emerging health concerns; and increasing the Alliance's capacity development.
ISSN:2291-9368
2291-9376
DOI:10.32799/ijih.v18i1.36724