Scholarly and popular literature from the 1800s pertaining to Indigenous peoples of North America frequently documented individuals who embodied multiple gender roles and expressions. These accounts, often filtered through the lens of Western cultural biases and limited understanding, offer glimpses into the diverse range of gender identities recognized and respected within various tribal societies. While terminology like “two-spirit,” a term coined much later, would not have been used at the time, these historical texts provide valuable, though sometimes problematic, sources for understanding the lives and roles of such individuals.
Examining these historical records is essential for understanding pre-colonial Indigenous cultures and the impact of colonization on gender and sexual diversity. While often reflecting the prejudices of the authors, these sources nevertheless can reveal important aspects of social structures, spiritual beliefs, and individual experiences. Accessing and critically analyzing this literature allows for a deeper understanding of the complex history of gender and sexuality in Indigenous communities and challenges simplistic narratives about the past. Recognizing the limitations and biases within these texts is crucial for responsible scholarship.
