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

• Published in: International 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
• Language: English
• 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
• DOI: 10.32799/ijih.v18i1.36724
• ISSN: 2291-9368

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.