A panel of elders told stories at the International Two-Spirit Gathering (Lane Hoffart/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

By Lane Hoffart

Two-Spirit Gathering

International Two-Spirit gathering encourages storytelling, celebration of identity

Sep 17, 2025 | 12:21 PM

The 38th annual International Two-Spirit Gathering is underway at Diamond Hill Resort near North Battleford. The gathering focuses on Pekiwewin, which is the act of coming home.

“That’s such a powerful statement within itself for the Two-Spirit community,” said Jordon Weenie, director of employment and training for the Atoskewin Success Centre.

“The Two-Spirit, we’ve been removed through colonization, through residential schools, through ignorance, and it’s time that we come back into the circle and be with our brothers and sisters to heal together, to help each other and to work together.”

Two-Spirit people are important in Indigenous culture as they are said to possess both a male and female spirit. Having two spirits instead of one means they are regarded as healers and sacred gift-givers within their communities.

Indigenous Elders at the gathering, some of whom are Two-Spirit, told stories and spoke about how important Two-Spirit people are to the Indigenous community. Weenie said that the elders sharing stories through word of mouth is a sacred part of Indigenous culture.

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“Any elder, whether they identify as Two-Spirit or non-Two-Spirit, they are the ones who are teaching us ceremony, they’re the ones who are giving us the songs, they’re the ones who are giving us the teachings to carry forward for future generations to share. And that’s what I love about Cree culture or any of the Indigenous cultures across Canada. It’s about sharing our gifts. It’s about giving our gifts.”

Two-Spirit programmer for Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs-Atoskewin (BATC) Shashonee Paddy, said that she and Weenie knew the gathering would be life-changing for themselves, as well as everyone else in attendance, when they saw spirits while on the way to the resort.

“We saw two eagles, and in our culture that is a gift. It’s a blessing. We were like ‘Okay, Creator. This is meant to be one of the spirits, our ancestors’. That was a sign from them, telling us we are doing good and to continue on doing this.”

Weenie encourages allies of the Two-Spirit community to listen, learn, and ask questions. He believes that is the best way for strong alliances to be created. He also encourages people to be themselves and celebrate what makes them unique.

“Observe, ask questions. Keep your opinions until you can form it, but observe. That’s where you learn. You learn through observation, you learn through asking questions. That’s how you create allies, that’s how you create support, because from that learning observation, there’s understanding and your empathy.”

“Continue to celebrate who you are. Whatever, however you identify, keep celebrating who you are.”

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lane.hoffart@pattisonmedia.com