A History of Ongoing Resistance: 2S & Indigenous LGBTQ Histories

This event centres around learning more about Two Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ+ identities and histories, and unpacking the ways in which understandings of queer and trans identities are so often entrenched in colonial conceptions of gender and sexuality. We will be joined by guest speaker Seán Kinsella, who will be sharing some of the histories of 2S and Indigenous LGBTQ+ folks, as well as the activism that has grown out of these communities and the continued efforts towards decolonization.

Due to limited space capacity and in the effort to ensure that attendees will have the opportunity to meaningfully engage with our programming, we ask that folks register through EventBrite to indicate that they will be joining us on Monday, January 21st from 3:30-5pm in Cumberland House (33 St. George Street). Due to our space restrictions, priority will be going to current University of Toronto students, though we hope to support similar future programming that will be able to accommodate the broader community as well. Registration will be open from Tuesday, January 15th at 12:30pm to Thursday, January 17th at 11:30pm. We hope that you can join us!

Attendees will also be invited to look through a series of early newsletters, posters, and photo albums of 2S groups provided by the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA). And finally, we will end the event with an activity in writing personalized land acknowledgments in order to reflect upon our relationship and commitments to the land we are on, as settlers or as Indigenous folks.

Seán Kinsella is a 2Spirit nêhi(y/th)aw/otipemisiwak/Nakawé/Irish Indigenous community activist who has a Masters of Education from OISE in Higher Education with a focus on leadership. They have facilitated keynotes and presentations internationally and have supervised student staff in Student Housing for over a decade and are a Professor of Indigenous Studies at Centennial College in Tkaronto.

TIME: 3:30 - 5:00 PM

LOCATION: Baldwin Room in Cumberland House (33 St. George Street).