The MNO Two-Spirit Council

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Two-Spirit Council is a representative, elected body that amplifies the voices of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ citizens across all MNO Regions. Guided by traditional knowledge and community priorities, we work to create safe spaces for our people.


Our Council was created following a 2016 AGA resolution to establish a provincial Two-Spirit/LGBTQIA+ Working Group. Since then, we’ve evolved into a vital part of MNO governance and community life, helping to reconnect our Nation with traditional understandings of gender and identity.


Who Are Two-Spirit People?

"Two-Spirit" is a modern pan-Indigenous term, coined in the 1990s by First Nations and Métis Elders in Winnipeg. But the roles it describes are ancient. Before colonization, many Indigenous nations—including the Métis—recognized individuals who embodied both masculine and feminine spirits. They served as Truth Speakers, Healers, Mediators, and Caregivers—holding honoured and often sacred responsibilities within their communities.


European colonization attempted to erase these roles, enforcing binary gender norms and marginalizing gender-diverse people. Many Métis lost access to these teachings. But today, we are reclaiming our stories, our spaces, and our rightful place in the circle.


What We Do

The MNO Two-Spirit Council works to decolonize, educate, and advocate—supporting both individual well-being and systemic change. Our core priorities include:


  1. Advising and Advocating

    We provide direction to MNO leadership on Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ issues, and advocate for the rights and recognition of our citizens at all levels of governance.

  2. Supporting Services and Programs

    We help shape culturally relevant supports across the MNO, from wellness programs to anti-violence initiatives. Our team offers gender-diverse training on topics like workplace inclusion, intimate partner violence, and climate resilience.

  3. Ensuring Representation in Governance

    We actively participate in MNO self-government negotiations and constitutional development, ensuring Two-Spirit voices help shape our Nation's future. We also collaborate with national partners like Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak.

  4. Building Community and Safe Spaces

    Whether through a virtual cook-along, powwow booths, Pride parades, or fireside chats, we create affirming spaces for Two-Spirit citizens to gather, decompress, and connect. Our goal is to offer both a welcoming entry point and a lasting home within the MNO.

What We Do

Since our inception, we’ve hosted annual events like A Place in the Circle and made meaningful contributions to MNO policy and culture. As we continue this important work, we invite all Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Métis citizens—whether out, questioning, or reconnecting—to join us.