33rd 2Spirit International Gathering 2020

Before covid-19 I was arranging to attend different events around Turtle Island. 2Spirit gatherings and Indigi-queer hangouts in Montreal, Saskatoon, British Columbia and Alberta. On March 14, all of that went away. The ceremonies. The conferences. Our ability to be one with each other was now altered. One of these gatherings that was postponed was […]

Walking in Balance: A Reflection

This poem is a reflection of words spoken at the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians 2020 Walking in Balance conference in London, ON March 8, 2020. These words were spoken by various speakers, facilitators, keynotes and by delegates at the conference. May this poem be used as for those helpers who are meeting people […]

That Thermos Look

I used to have this boyfriend and a thermos cup. And one day the boyfriend said “Don’t look at me while you’re drinking your coffee.” Bewildered and hurt I said, “Why?” He responded with, “Because it’s the same look you give when you’re sucking a dick.” I threw away the thermos. And him a few […]

YOU

You laugh without understanding the context of what is being said to you. You pay full price for tickets in solidarity that guarantees you a spot in spaces that others cant access. You feel better that I am out, so you can out me when you introduce me to others. Your BLANK friend. Your BLANK […]

A Funny Native

I was asked to go be the master/mistress of ceremonies for a community event in Bkejwanong. I’m kind of new to the whole self-booking and making all the travel and lodging arrangements myself? Thanks to the big move on reconciliation and a new flock of Grey Owls, I usually just let whichever colonial agent do […]

The Griefy Train

The Griefy Train All aboard the Griefy Train! Pardon? You didn’t know you were invited? Well a lot of the passengers on board the griefy train didn’t know they had tickets either. We just find ourselves on a long ride full of crowded carriages, dark spaces, parties with the living, tearful reunions, sad reflections, and […]

Dad Conversations

If you are thinking this piece is going going to be lighthearted and funny and also very sad and painful, then you got yourself a bingo my friend. My dad was my biggest fan. He really should of have been my agent. The first time I visited him at the nursing home, he asked if […]

Oh Cantada

I wrote this piece a day after the Tina Fontaine verdict was delivered. I wasn’t going to post it but I need to share how I was feeling emotions can be so raw. I was so angry. I still am. But after attending a memorial after writing this piece, I realized I need to channel […]

200 Words or Less

Teddy Syrette (Ozhawa Anaung Kwe/Yellow Star Woman) is a 2-Spirit Anishnabek person from Rankin Reserve of Batchewana First Nation. They write poetry, short stories, and works of non-fiction. The non-fiction pieces of work include Facebook Statuses, tweets and their income taxes of 2014 and 2008, respectively. They are currently published in a couple of anthologies, […]

PLACES

Do you ever find yourself surrounded by strangers and think, “what if, in a moment from now, is the beginning of the end of the world; and this is who you’re stuck with: STRANGERS.” You don’t know who they are, what they are planning or if they are plotting against you. I’m Native, so […]

Teddy 2Spirit

I speak my truth about how the world impacts me and how I impact the world. I want to take down misogynistic, racist, homophobic, elitist patriarchs and systems. But I'm mostly doing this so I can adopt and support a Pug.