NorthEast Two-Spirit Society

Inwood Hill Park
Saturday, May 03, 2008

Take the ‘A’ Train to 207 Stop**
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Manhattan

Drums Along the Hudson includes native drumming from around the world, intertribal social dances like the Round Dance, the Iroquois Smoke Dance, and the Jingle Dance. Native food, crafts, and art will be for sale.

Shad Fest celebrates the annual return of spawning shad to the Hudson River. Shad Planking demonstrations by Chris Letts of the Hudson River Foundation and free tastings are Featured. “Planking ” is a Native American cooking method taught to the European settlers.

For more information, please visit the Drums Along the Hudson website:

Co-sponsored by Northern Manhattan Parks, Lotus Music & Dance, and The Hudson River Foundation.

** Take the A uptown to 207th street. Exit at the front of the train (Isham street). Walk West on Isham, up the hill. Enter Inwood Hill Park and take the 1st path on the right (which follows Seaman Avenue) to the end (past the ball fields and play ground).

In this post:

• Speakers Bureau/Speaking Engagements
• What’s the future of BINGO night?
• Grant money
• 1st Nat’l Native American Conference on Crystal Meth
• Policy papers
• Spring Survey
• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Speakers Bureau/Speaking Engagements:

Of all of our programs, the Speakers Bureau is the one that is keeping us the busiest. So far, there has been limited diversity amongst our members in doing presentations. Please watch for speaker requests and respond if you would be interested. Time is usually critical in responding so get back to us as quickly as you can.
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National Native American Heritage Month Event

Indigenous peoples have of North America have histories and traditions that date back to time immemorial. While masses of Europeans lived in abject poverty subject to the individual whims of a few men, Indian people had thriving democracies based on equality, respect, responsibility and diversity. European colonists found these traditions so unusual and threatening to the oppressive systems they understood that they were compelled to set about systematic destruction of many nations and our way of life. From ancient pasts our lifeways and intellectual perspectives have been significantly different in a variety of ways. Noteworthy differences on aging, the role of elders, women, sex, gender and sexuality require examination, not as an alternative, but as a solution to many of today’s social ills.

Join us as elders Sharon M. Day, the Executive Director of the Twin City’s Indigenous Peoples Task Force, Kent Lebsock, of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society and Louis Mofsie, the lead-singer and founding member of the Thunderbird American Indian Singers and Dancers and Chairman of the American Indian Community House’s Board of Directors, examine the past, present and future of Indigenous Two-Spirit traditions, our communities and, most importantly, the roles of our elders. The forum will also address the enriching traditions Native Americans can offer as solutions to issues surrounding gender diversity, sexuality and aging.

Admission is always free, though donations are accepted.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 6-8PM
LGBT Community Center
208 West 13th Street – Rm. 101

NE2SS Councilmember Kevin VanWanseele traveled back to his hometown, San Diego, CA, to march with Karen Vigneault and her organization Nations of the Four Directions. NOTFD organizes the ‘twin-spirit’ community of San Diego metro area. NE2SS came to support their organization and ultimately support the national movement of the two-spirit/twin-spirit/winkte community.

“Most of the two-spirits were on the sidelines trying to blend in. When we passed we kept motioning them to join us in our group,” VanWanseele said. “A few joined us.”

Vigneault said she was contacted by numerous two-spirit friends afterward and asked to march with them next year.

“I saw a lot of faces on the sidelines that looked like they wanted so much to be marching and not just sitting. It’s surprising that there is still a lot of shame with being gay in such a large city. Maybe next year there’ll be a little less shame.”

Karen Vigneault wanted to thank the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society for their support.

Slideshow

The NorthEast Two-Spirit Society proudly stepped off on a hot summer day in June. They led the People of Color contingent past cheering crowds. NE2SS member Othell sent over these beautiful shots of that day. If you have any pictures of that day send them over to info@ne2ss.org.

Enjoy! And see you next year!

Slideshow