Two-Spirit leader, Director and Co-Founder of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society, Harlan Pruden, was named as an American representative to the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS (“IIWGHA”). Mr. Pruden was selected because he met and exceeded the criteria set out in the Call for New IIWGHA Leaders.

In accepting this new post, Mr. Pruden restated his commitment to all the members of the National Confederacy of Two-Spirit Organizations in the United States that he would, “work to ensure our community is not only represented, but that this country’s Two-Spirit and Native organizations working to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS are briefed and kept up-to-date of all the work of IIWGHA.” He went on to say that he was also, “committed to seeking community guidance and input on decisions effecting, impacting and involving the Two-Spirit and Native community.”
(more…)

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) met in Washington, D.C. on February 7 – 8, 2013 to discuss a range of issues that impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The presentations also included the following topics: understanding the epidemic in the transgender and Two Spirit communities; the criminalization of HIV/AIDS, high impact prevention; and the Stigma Index and the impact of stigma and discrimination in the HIV/AIDS community.

This video features PACHA member Jack Jackson, Jr. as well as Harlan Pruden from the NorthEast Two Spirit Society, discussing the Two Spirit resolution passed at the meeting.

(New York, NY) Two-Spirit leaders from 12 different states called upon the two principle negotiators of the re-authorization the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Vice-President Biden and Rep. Eric Cantor, to include Native women. This action was taken in light of news reports that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va) was supportive of this bill as along as one key provision was removed: the protection for Native American women.
(more…)

Vancouver, Wash. - The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) has released a report on the “Strengthening the Bones” convening held in the fall of 2011 that brought together over 100 individuals representing a cross section of arts services organizations, cultural centers, museums, artists and artist collectives, foundation and government funding agencies to learn and build around the community of Native art. The report outlines next steps and collaborations needed to build support systems, educational capacity and identify focus areas for arts organizations and leaders.

Over the course of two days, participants participated in plenary and breakout sessions focused on four primary objectives: to map and share individual strengths and priorities; to identify collective connections and energy; to identify strategies and action steps for supporting Native arts coalitions; and identify strategies and action steps for Native arts advocacy efforts. A wide variety of issues including evolution of Indigenous identity in the 21st century, strategies for sustaining arts and cultures in communities, and building the next generation of leadership in the arts were discussed.
(more…)