CITY OF ANGELS TWO-SPIRIT SOCIETY
Our History
"The Indigenous peoples that first inhabited North America (Turtle Island) had complex cultures that were interwoven with nature. This included the recognition and acceptance of multiple gender identities. A Two-Spirit person was considered to be embodied with both male and female spirits and was gifted with many skills and abilities of both sexes. The Two-Spirit tribal member was identified with an honorable term in the tribe’s language. As such, the Two-Spirit person was often a medicine person, healer, custodian of the language and culture of the tribe, a counselor, a conflict strategist, an educator, teacher, and a parent to orphans and caregiver to elders. The respected Two-Spirit tradition was eradicated with the origination of European colonization and the imposition of the Binary Model. In 1990, queer Indigenous people created the term “Two-Spirit” as a broad replacement for the many traditional terms that were abandoned."
- Hudson Tibbetts, Eastern Cherokee Band, and Lenape-Nanticoke | Co-Chair
The City of Angels Two-Spirit Society began formed in late 2012 by a diverse group of Native American LGBTQ peoples in the Los Angeles Basin on Tongva territory. While the Red Circle Project of AIDS Project Los Angeles provided exclusively Indigenous gay male and trans feminine social and educational spaces, the community voiced a need for a CATSS space inclusive of Indigenous lesbian and bisexual women and the diverse families of CATSS members. The first 2013 meetings took place at United American Indian Involvement in Westlake west of downtown LA. The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach also hosted subsequent meetings. Over the years, members partnered in educational projects involving Two-Spirit and LGBTQ education, HIV prevention, pow wows, media, medical services, writing circles, and counseling. CATSS members have been proud to serve on the Indigenous Pride LA executive committee since its inception in 2018.
CATSS is a recognized Two-Spirit society by the International Council of Two-Spirit Societies. To see a list of all the official recognized Two-Spirit Societies, click here.
To learn more about Two-Spirit, please visit Indigenous Pride LA's "Education" page.
Mission
The overreaching goal of CATSS and other Two-Spirit Societies is to develop safe spaces and a return to the traditional circle for all persons that identify as Two-Spirit.
CATSS is providing support to the City of Angels American Indian, Alaska Native, First Nation, Indigenous, Two Spirit community and engender awareness of our traditional sacred role to the community of greater Los Angeles.
Meet the Officers
For any inquiries pertaining to the City of Angeles Two-Spirit Society, please contact
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Co-Chair
Aniyunwiya (Eastern Cherokee) & Lenape Nanticoke
He/Él/Ele
Osiyo nagada,
Born and raised in the Tongva lands of Los Angeles, Tsanusdi Hudson Tibbetts, is descended from the first British to arrive to America as well as Eastern Cherokee and Lenape Nanticoke ancestry. The Creator has blessed me with health, sustenance, loving friendships and, as I enter elder status, wisdom as well. As I matured sexually in puberty, I recognized that I identified as a gay man. My working history is comprised of teaching, banking, and healthcare/ nursing/ hospital administration. In adulthood, I cultivated my connections with my ancestors. As I was not raised in a "traditional" indigenous community, I endeavored to learn as much as possible about our indigenous ways and was introduced to the Two-Spirit tradition. For myself, there is more serenity and holiness in the traditional indigenous ways, and I feel a greater sense of purpose and connection of spirit to people and the world.
Wado Unetlanvhi!
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Co-Chair
Caxcan/Xicanx
Ze, Zir
Professor Gabriel S. Estradais a Caxcan/Xicanx professor in religious studies at California State University Long Beach, where ze teaches queer spirituality, Indi-genous graduate classes, and Nahuatl literature.