Beyond Pride: how a UM community cares for their relatives
On many campuses, Indigenous students have their own spaces, and 2SLGBTQIA+ students have theirs. But for those who hold both identities at once, they might find themselves at the edges of two communities — connected to each, yet never fully at home in either. Two-Spirits Talking — known as 2ST — set out to create a space where that in-between is not a gap to fall through, but a place to belong.
The first time one participant attended a Two-Spirit Sundance, they had no idea what to expect.
"That was the first time I thought — maybe someday I really could take part in a Sundance ceremony," they said. Seeing people from different backgrounds gathered together made them feel, perhaps for the first time, that they could simply be themselves.
It is the kind of experience 2ST was created to make possible.
"Two-Spirit" is not simply an Indigenous version of LGBTQ+. It describes an identity rooted in culture, community and spirituality — one that holds a distinct and sacred place within many Indigenous traditions. "Indigiqueer" speaks to the inseparable connection between Indigenous identity and queer identity. Both terms carry histories and meanings that resist easy translation or appropriation.
2ST has its own origin story at UM.
In 2020, COVID-19 brought university life to a standstill. As everything moved online, demand for support at the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) grew, and ISC responded by launching online Sharing Circles for students and community members.
A year later, Nicki Ferland — a Two-Spirit Métis staff member— sat down with ISC Director Carla Loewen to address a longstanding gap: at the University of Manitoba (UM), there were almost no programs designed specifically for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people. Two-Spirits Talking began from that conversation.
The earliest gatherings were led by Elders Albert McLeod, Charlotte Nolin and Barbara Bruce, who hosted Sharing Circles where Two-Spirit students and staff could share, learn and celebrate who they are. In the fall of 2024, Lauren Hallett — a Two-Spirit Métis student — took over as program coordinator, bringing a stronger focus on student leadership and community-driven programming.
Every Friday, a group gathers in the Circle Room at Migizii Agamik Bald Eagle Lodge. There is bannock and tea on the table. Someone might be beading, someone else crocheting or quietly using a fidget toy.
This is a Talking Circle — more relaxed than a traditional Sharing Circle and designed with neurodivergent participants in mind. Each session draws roughly 7 to 12 people. Since 2021, hundreds of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer community members have walked into that circle — including many still exploring their identity or who do not use labels at all. For many, it is the first time they have connected with other Two-Spirit or Indigiqueer people in person.
"Belonging, for me, means being part of a community that accepts you wherever you are in your journey of self-exploration," one participant said.
2ST welcomes First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members. You do not need a confirmed identity to walk through the door — and bringing a friend is more than welcome.
For some, 2ST has become more than a place to attend — it has become a community they help shape. The program has hired three circle members, giving them hands-on training and the opportunity to grow as leaders.
Hallett describes what has emerged as a cycle of reciprocity: participate, support, collaborate and bring others along. "Seeing participants develop a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility — for the program and for their community — has been a beautiful thing to witness," they said.
Pride Month carries particular meaning for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer communities.
"Pride began as a protest movement led by racialized queer people," Hallett said. "We cannot forget our history, our roots and our responsibility to practice allyship every day — to fight for equity and justice for all our relatives."
On June 7, 2ST joined Winnipeg's Pride Parade — for many participants, not just a celebration, but an act of visibility and a declaration that Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people are living, embracing joy, and embodying resistance.
2ST is also a health promotion and harm reduction initiative, reflecting their commitment to Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer student belonging and wellbeing. By providing food and a safe, affirming space, the program supports participants' physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, working to reduce the everyday harms caused by cisheterosexism, colonialism, racism, homophobia and transphobia.
Hallett looks forward to welcoming new faces in the 2026–27 academic year. The door is open — you do not need a settled identity or any particular version of yourself to show up, only a willingness to be part of something larger than yourself.
"We are an open, friendly and welcoming group," Hallett said, "always looking for more relatives to join our community and circle of care."
For those still searching for where they belong, that invitation may be exactly where the journey begins.
For upcoming events, follow @two.spirits.talking on Instagram or check the UM Indigenous Calendar of Events.
Two-Spirits Talking is funded by Community Engaged Learning (CEL) and UM's partnership with the Mastercard Foundation's EleV Program.
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