"Growing up, I felt caught between two worlds: rejected by mainstream society for being Two-Spirit and disconnected from my own Indigenous community. For years, I carried the weight of discrimination and isolation, unsure how to connect the various conflicting parts of myself. The healing circles have given me the space to share my pain, something I’ve never experienced before. The opportunity to teach and share my own cultural practices with the community has been not just about recovery for me but about reclaiming my identity and contributing to the ongoing conversation about what it means to be Two-Spirit in today’s world."

"I’ve always felt different, especially in my small rural community in northern Alberta. As a Cree two-spirit person, I struggled to fit into a world that didn’t understand or accept me, particularly my family, who couldn’t grasp my identity due to their own trauma from the residential school system. This left me feeling isolated, battling depression, self-harm, and substance use as I tried to numb the pain of being unseen. Over time, with the help of an open-minded Elder, I began reconnecting with my Indigenous roots and learned that my two-spirit identity wasn’t a curse but a gift. While my healing journey is ongoing and my community still has much to learn, I’ve stopped waiting for approval from others and am reclaiming my identity with pride. Though it’s not always easy, I now know I am worthy of love and acceptance, and I’m finding my way home."