“Two-Spirit Kinship” with Kai Minosh Pyle

What can you do when the language for who you are doesn’t exist yet? Kai Minosh Pyle’s answer: write gorgeous poetry about it! In this episode, Kai reads one of their multilingual pieces, but they also talk about the benefits of using words that ‘kind of’ fit, and about finding trans*temporal kinship with Two-Spirit ancestors in creative writing and scholarly research. Kai introduces us to some less well-known figures from Indigiqueer history, they talk about the challenges of teaching Two-Spirit writing and they even (possibly) coin a new term right here in this episode!

If you are excited at the prospect of finding out what Indigitrans might mean, don’t delay – listen today!

References:

Pyle, Kai, and Danne Jobin. "Transgender, Two-Spirit and Nonbinary Indigenous Literatures: An Introduction." Transmotion 7.1 (2021): 1-9.

Anishinaabe

Métis

Louise (Wzawshek)

Potawatomi

Ozaawindib

Ralph Kerwineo

“The Midwest is a Two-Spirit Place”

Sweeter Voices Still

Trans*temporal kinship

Lisa Tatonetti

Jas Morgan

Wahkohtowin

Aiyyana Maracle’s A Journey in Gender

Ojibwe

Michif

Keguro Macharia

T4T

Jenzen, Olu. "Revolting Doubles: Radical Narcissism and the Trope of Lesbian Doppelgangers." Journal of Lesbian Studies 17.3-4 (2013): 344-364.

Indigitrans

Joshua Whitehead

Arielle Twist

Muxe

Lukas Avendaño

Jenny Davis

Alex Wilson

Gary Bowen

Leslie Feinberg

Whess Harman’s Salmon Journey

https://www.whessharman.com/comics


Questions you should be able to respond to after listening:

1. In this episode, we speak about Two-Spirit identities without defining the term. Can you briefly explain what Two-Spirit means? If not, please look up the term or listen to the Queer Lit episode on the subject with Lisa Tatonetti.
2. Please name at least two of the historical Two-Spirit figures Kai introduces here. Were you familiar with any Two-Spirit figure or author before listening to this episode?
3. Kai speaks about coining the beautiful term ‘trans*temporal’. Can you explain what this means? Have you ever experienced something similar?
4. With their poem “T4T” and in their research, Kai negotiates how gender moves through language. What does Kai see as benefits of understanding gender through multiple languages? What are challenges?
5. Did you ever have to translate (literally or figuratively) your gender and/or sexuality? What was that like?