Respect is a Tribal tradition: Change Team supports LGBTQ/Two-Spirits
Before colonization and throughout
many Tribal communities and histories,
there was a deep understanding and affir
mation of broad and mixed gender roles.
People were not just bom men or women,
masculine or feminine; we all had a mix
of both traits within ourselves.
“Our Elders tell us of people who were
gifted among all beings because they car
ried two spirits, that of male and female.
It is told that women engaged in tribal
warfare and married other women, as there
were men who married other men. These
individuals were looked upon as a third and
fourth gender in many cases and in almost
all cultures they were honored and revered.
Two-spirit people were often the visionar
ies, the healers, the medicine people, the
nannies of orphans, the care givers.” Sandra
La framboise and Michael Anhom'
After colonization, there has been
little recognition of this history and often
our Two-Spirit Tribal members feel iso
lated and invisible in both their Tribal
community as well as the larger world.
In 2010, with the support of the West
ern States Center, the Siletz Tribal Change
Team was created to improve the services
utilized by the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) and
Two-Spirit community.
Mindful that we have not as a commu
nity or Tribal government made explicit
efforts to reach out and serve our LGBTQ/
Two-Spirit community members, the
team committed to create awareness,
provide education/resources and change
the culture of the Native community to
be more accepting of LGBTQ/Two-Spirit
individuals.
In an effort to promote the National
Coming Out Day event as well as elevate
the lives, voices, experiences and lead
ership of LGBTQ/Two-Spirit Tribal
citizens, the Change Team will profile
Tribal community members who are
proudly LGBTQ/Two-Spirit leaders. This
month, the Change Team profiles Sequoia
Breck, a TYEE worker in the Portland
Area Office.
What’s it like being Two-Spirit in
Siletz? Not much different than being
Upcoming Events
straight in Portland because it’s not any
one’s concern what your sexual orienta
tion is. People are more open here than in
a smaller town because they’ve seen more.
Siletz
How were you raised in your family
to understand who you are and what
identities you claim? Growing up, my
mom would always tell me, “If you like
girls, it’s okay; if you like boys, it’s okay.”
She didn't assume anything, so me telling
her didn't shock her. As for my other fam
ily, they support me so they just accepted
me automatically.
Why are support groups for Two-
Spirit folks in the Siletz Tribe an
important response and effort to build
gender justice within the Tribe? It tells
the Tribal members that we as a Tribe
accept this and it’s not a bad thing. This is
especially needed in Siletz, as there aren’t
as many services there for Two-Spirit or
gay people to feel welcomed and part of
the community.
How have you been able to share
this identity with other folks in your
family and community? With family, I
just told them and they accepted it. With
the community, I don’t bring it up unless
it needs to be. I don't think it's something
that you have to tell everybody. The only
people it really needs to be told to are the
folks you might date.
How do you understand how
LGBTQ and Two-Spirit issues are seen
or thought of within yourTribe? I don’t
really know because it isn’t something
that's widely discussed. But I feel that
most of our members are neutral; they are
smart enough to think of people as people
and not label them.
What would make you feel wel
come and affirmed within your own
community? I already feel welcomed in
my community. I never felt unwelcome
because I surround myself with open,
intelligent people, some of whom are also
LGBTQ. They don’t try and tell you who
to be. they just accept you at value.
How has gender identity shaped
your role in the community and the
way you have grown your influence
and leadership? Going to places like
NARA for the Two-Spirit youth group has
made me feel more confident and more of
a leader because I can tell people about
places they can go and feel welcome and
get assistance for what they need.
What factored into your decision to
come out to your family or community?
I wanted to tell people so they knew me
and my personality better.
If the Tribe were to become truly
welcoming and affirming, what would
that look like to you? Having a youth/
young adult trip that is just for Two-Spirit/
LGBTQ individuals so they can relate
and feel comfortable coming out, so they
know that being LGBTQ or Two-Spirit
isn’t something abnormal in our Tribe.
While working at the PAO as a
TYEE worker and being Two-Spirit, how
did you feel? Working at the PAO, I felt
like my sexuality was a non-issue. I'm a
person doing my job, not just a pansexual
doing my job.
I’d like to add that if you’re gay, it’s
not the only thing you are. Don’t make
yourself all about being gay. You are more
than who you fall in love with. Don’t
shove it in people’s faces, it’s unnecessary.
Note: A pansexual is someone who
likes all genders. They like people based
on their personalities, not their parts.
If you would like to be profiled and
included in the Change Team’s efforts,
please contact Jamie Bokuro or Tracey
Woman at 800-922-1399 or 541 -444-2532.
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Retrieved July 19,2010, from dancingtoeagle-
spiritsociety.org/twospirit.php
Celebration of National Coming Out
Day - Oct. 11
12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Siletz
Tribal Community Center. Bar
beque-style lunch and refresh
ments; speakers on the Tribe’s
history with LGBTQ/Two-Spirit
individuals, what it means to
identify as LGBTQ/Two-Spirit
and the struggles in today’s soci
ety, the mission of the Change
Team and a dossing blessing/
song. Also will preview a film
by Basic Rights Oregon. Tribal
programs will attend with infor
mation on what they provide.
Support Group Meeting - Oct. 16
5:30-6:30 p.m. (potluck, bring
your favorite dish)
Salem
Support Group Meeting - Oct. 10
5 p.m. (potluck, bring your favor
ite dish)
Portland
Support Group Meeting -
October date TBA
5:30 p.m. (potluck, bring your
favorite dish)
Eugene
Support Group Meeting -
October date TBA
5 p.m. (potluck, bring your favor
ite dish)
Contact the area offices if you
would like to participate in our upcom
ing events or would like more infor
mation about the Change Team. You
also can find valuable information on
our Facebook page. Just search “Siletz
LGBTQ Equality” and click “Like.”
Enrollment Committee
Current Vacancy-Term Ending February 2013
Application deadline for consideration to fill the vacant
committee position is Oct. 17,2012
Any Tribal member interested in serving on the Enrollment Committee
must fill out the following form and return it to the address below prior to close
of business on Oct. 17, 2012.
Please mail or fax your application to Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians,
Attn: Executive Secretary to Tribal Council, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-
0549; fax: 541-444-8325.
Name:___________________________________ _Roll No:
Address:__________________________________ _______ ___________________
City:
State:ZIP:
Telephone: Day ( )Evening ( )
Appointment to the committee will be made at the Regular Tribal Council
meeting in October.
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Siletz News
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October 2012
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
In the August issue of Siletz News, Yvonne Opperud was misidentified in this photo
with Rollie Rilatos from the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow. Siletz News regrets the error.