Miywasin Moment: A journey in rainbow moccasins

By JoLynn Parenteau on March 30, 2022.

J”It’s my hope this is just the beginning of the evolution of acceptance, safety, self-determination, and celebration of all Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, trans and sexual identities.”

– Raven Davis,

Two-Spirit Anishinaabe

artist and educator

Teddy Syrette is a star in his own right. The award-winning advocate, artist and storyteller also bears the Anishinaabe spirit name Ozhawa Anung Kwe, Yellow Star Woman.

“The Elder who gave me my name, Harlan Downwind Baa, mentioned that some stars are gendered. Some are genderless and that some move and shift between genders,” explains Syrette. “If I feel more attuned with my feminine side of myself, I can add Kwe (Woman) to the end of Ozhawa Anung. Or if I don’t feel that part of myself, I can just be Ozhawa Anung (Yellow Star).”

Syrette, 36, of Batchewana First Nation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario uses they/them pronouns but is also open to using he/him and she/her. Syrette identifies as Two-Spirit, a modern term used by some Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ people to capture the wholeness of their gender, sexuality and spirituality. “Call me whatever, just don’t call me for money,” quips Syrette.

In the March 9 issue of the News, Dr. Daniel Schnee thoughtfully commented in his column The Human Condition that “identity, culture and one’s sense of being are indeed complex, and not so simply defined.” Dr. Schnee observed that people using varied pronouns “aren’t asking me to change, just use more accurate language in our conversations.”

These conversations matter. On Thursday evening last, Miywasin Friendship Centre hosted a lively special event from Medicine Hat Public Library’s theatre, a bonus session of the seventh annual Journey Towards Healing and Reconciliation Conference that ran March 7-11. Donning a glitzy sash proclaiming him the Two-Spirit International Warrior for Advocacy bestowed upon them by the 34th International Two-Spirit Gathering at Métis Crossing in northern Alberta last year, Syrette Zoomed into Thursday evening’s event as guest speaker. Fifty attendees of all ages joined online and in person to listen as Syrette shared stories from their life and a brief history of Two-Spirit people.

As a young person, Syrette struggled with their Indigiqueer ( Indigenous + Queer) identity and came out as gay at age 12. Now they share their story to encourage youth unsure of their own paths. Appearing in a 2019 YouTube video as part of the We Matter campaign, Syrette shared that “Spirit and Creator are always there for you,” a message that resonated with Miywasin’s youth group.

“Find those who love you, no matter what, and ask for help. You don’t have to do any of this alone,” says the Planned Parenthood Toronto LGBTQ+ Person of the Year. “Creator made you who you are, and Creator doesn’t make any mistakes. Creator made each of us for a reason. You might be the Elder or helper that another youth might need someday.”

In the MMIWGSLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan released in April 2021, Indigenous peoples are declared as constantly evolving.

“As we continue to access and reclaim our Indigenous knowledges through our lands and cultures, we must recognize that our languages are also in a constant state of evolution,” says the report, “to be inclusive, honour and celebrate offering choices for our sexual and gender diverse relatives to identify. Thus, we also celebrate the diversity of ways our people choose to identify themselves.”

These days, Syrette is moving in new circles – paint circles, that is. With both their parents passing away in the last four years and coping with the pandemic, Syrette began painting abstract circles to process their grief.

“I’ve now started to facilitate community paint nights, and speak about my grandmother and relatives who attended residential school. I talk about healing, reconciliation and self-care while painting circles and dots with folks,” says Syrette of their new artist/educator endeavour. “I really like organizing and building paint kits for participants, and hope to do more creative projects like this.”

Syrette welcomes everyone along their storytelling journey across Turtle Island (Indigenous North America). “There’s always a space for everybody in the circle, no matter how different they are.”

JoLynn Parenteau is a Métis writer out of Miywasin Friendship Centre. Column feedback can be sent to jolynn.parenteau@gmail.com