Here's what a 2-spirit powwow looks like, and how it builds everyone up
The joy was palpable at the 36th International Two-Spirit Gathering powwow. Contributor Ann Paul brought her camera, and shares the colour and joy from the event.
Tribes from across Canada gather in Nova Scotia for celebration of two-spirit community
CBC News ·
The two-spirit powwow at the 36th International Two-Spirit Gathering in Nova Scotia was full of joy and colour. (Ann Paul/CBC)
In the two-spirit community, there's one rule: never break each other down, only build each other up.
CBC contributor Ann Paul saw — and felt — this spirit of camaraderie in the LGTBTQ community and their allies at the 36th International Two-Spirit Gathering in late July in Nova Scotia.
During the event's first two-spirit powwow, Paul said the feelings of joy and safety hit you as soon as you walked in the room.
"I really loved the fact that when I came in the room, I didn't feel intimidated by anybody. I just came in and I was me, they liked me for being me, and I liked them for being them," Paul said.
Scroll through the photos and watch the video to see what Ann saw.
Powwow attendees joined hands for a round dance. (Ann Paul/CBC)
'They put a lot of effort into their outfits,' Ann Paul said of powwow dancers. 'They put their personality into their outfits.' Left: River Webb of Nez Perce and Meskwaki from Iowa. Right: Johanna Googoo. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Powwow attendee Aaron Mitchell flies the colours of the rainbow. (Ann Paul/CBC)
WATCH | At this two-spirit powwow, people wore whatever they wanted:
Tribes from across Canada raised their flags for a 2-spirit powwow
2 years ago
Duration 3:24
Young and old danced at a two-spirit powwow in Nova Scotia, the first of its kind at the 36th International Two-Spirit Gathering.
'They were having a blast,' Ann Paul said. 'Nobody wanted to go home.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
Two-Spirit Alliance youth representatives were also there to dance at the powwow. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Celebrators line up for a veteran's song. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Albert McLeod holds up a flag during the powwow opening. (Ann Paul/CBC)
This is two-spirit logo was incorporated into many powwow outfits. (Ann Paul/CBC)
People of all ages danced in the two-spirit powwow. 'Some were strangers, some were old friends,' Ann Paul said. (Ann Paul/CBC)
John Sylliboy is the co-founder of the Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance. As the executive director of the 36th International Two-Spirit Gathering, he coordinated the event's funding and staff. (Ann Paul/CBC)
This Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance logo took several months to make. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Ann's Eye
Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work.
