O:se Kenhionhata:tie
About
O:se Kenhionhata:tie
O:se Kenhionhata:tie is a name meaning Willow River in Kenien’keha. We began as a small reclamation of space by Amy Smoke, Bangishimo and Terre Chartrand in Willow River Park (Victoria Park) June 2020. With the raising of the tipi, many urban youth arrived seeking safe space to be Indigenous, and many identified as Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+. The space was held for 122 days before moving on to other locations. In that time, many Elders came and ceremonies were hosted in hopes of bringing back connection to culture for those who don't have that access.
Who Are We
We are a group of Two-Spirit, IndigiQueer, Queer/Trans Indigenous people and LGBTQ+ settler accomplices gathering in the Great Peace to celebrate, learn and thrive in our cultures. We represent several Nations living within both Dish With One Spoon and Two Row Wampums.
O:se Kenhionhata:tie has expanded far beyond its roots as a reclamation and grown to include many projects of varied scope.
The #LandBack Movement
Starting in 2018, Land Back has meant to embody a return to traditional nationhood, including a return of land, ownership, culture, language, ceremony, relationships, sovereignty, housing, human rights and more. This movement has taken on its own form since its inception, becoming a hashtag, a slogan and a political movement across the world. It represents a need to liberate ourselves from colonization and white supremacy, to create a better way of being with our world and our neighbours. No it doesn't mean you have to move.
Two-Spirit and IndigiQueer
Many Indigenous Nations did not follow binary gender norms until colonization took root. Nations typically had multiple genders, relationship structures and roles that they all played within the community and have their own names for people that fall into those roles.
The term Two-Spirit came about in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg. It is an umbrella term used by many Indigenous people of many Nations to express their identity and how it intertwines with their culture. It can encompass gender and sexuality but is specifically meant for use of Indigenous individuals.
IndigiQueer is another term that has popped up more recently. It was coined by TJ Cuthand to express a more modern idea and non binary terminoligy for the interconectivity of culture and sexual and gender identity.