This document discusses indigenous traditions in North America and Aotearoa (New Zealand) that recognized multiple gender identities and same-sex relationships. It notes that over 150 indigenous nations in North America had traditions recognizing "Two Spirit" people, who embodied both male and female spirits. These traditions challenged colonial views that imposed rigid binary systems. Despite facing violence from colonizers, some nations initially protected Two Spirit people, though later denied these traditions under colonial pressure. The document also discusses traditional Māori acceptance of diverse sexualities, and the contemporary concepts of "takatapui" and efforts to address HIV/AIDS in culturally appropriate, identity-affirming ways for indigenous communities. It calls for decolonizing approaches and indigenous

1. The Resilience of
Indigenous Men
with a Same Sex
Attraction
Clive Aspin
Ngati Maru

12. NE2SS
• On the land we know as North America, there were approximately 400
distinct indigenous Nations. Of that number, 155 have documented
multiple gender traditions. Two Spirit is a contemporary term that refers
to those traditions where some individuals’ spirits are a blending of male
and female spirit. The existence of Two Spirit people challenges the rigid
binary view of the world of the North American colonizers and
missionaries, not just of a binary gender system, but a binary system of
this or that, all together. The Two Spirits’ mere existence threatened the
colonizers’ core beliefs; the backlash was violent. Sketches, housed at the
New York City public library, depict Two Spirit people being attacked by
colonizers’ dogs. Word of this brutal treatment spread quickly from nation
to nation. Many nations decided to take actions to protect their honored
and valued Two Spirit people. Some nations hid them by asking them to
replace their dress, a mixture of men and women’s clothing, with the
attire of their biological sex. After years of colonization, some of those
very same nations denied ever having a tradition that celebrated and
honored their Two Spirit people

16. The truth about Māori sexuality…
Sexuality was enjoyed in many forms. People chose
partners of either sex for pleasure, and same-sex
love was not condemned or vilified.
Over the decades of colonisation the homosexual,
and more certainly the lesbian, became invisible.
Little is known of homosexuality as it occurred in
traditional Māori society. My informants
unanimously assure me that the incidence of it, both
male and female, was marked.
Ngahuia Te Awekotuku

17. Takatapui - historical usage
“An intimate companion of the same sex.”
Williams, H. (1844) Dictionary of the Maori
Language
Hinemoa, Tutanekai and Tiki

18. Takatapui - contemporary usage
• Encompasses sexual and cultural components
of one’s identity
• Used by men, women, transgender
• Preferred to terms such as gay, lesbian and
transsexual
• Increasing usage within Maori community

19. AIDS 2004
“We have to put sex back into the epidemic rather
beyond just a root of transmission. There was no
celebration of positive sexuality, no celebration of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered identities, no
celebration or discussion of diverse sexuality or our
sexual rights. Although the issue of male to male
sexual behaviour made it onto the program and we are
very grateful for that, the sessions covered it from a
behavioural or intervention perspective and did not
necessarily address the sexuality and identity.”
Shaun Mellors, Community Rapporteur

20. Human flourishing…
We must not shy away from protecting
vulnerable populations. Their vulnerability
should not reduce their intrinsic worth as
human beings.
Social justice demands that everyone be
assisted to flourish regardless of their state in
life
Dr Stephen Sodeke, 2004

21. Indigenous peoples and HIV
• Disproportionate rates of HIV
• Poor access to services
• Culturally inappropriate services
• High rates of discrimination and stigma
• Room for us all
• Late testing
• Treatment as prevention

22. Questions
How do we move Beyond Behaviours?
How can social sciences (or emerging theories
on health) help illuminate socially produced
influences on the health of indigenous men?
What kind of solutions emerge when we go
Beyond Behaviours?

23. Indigenous paradigms and world views
• Decolonising methodologies
• Kaupapa Maori
• Indigenous research
• Building indigenous capacity
• Improving and facilitating access to services
• Eliminating disparities

26. Kia ora
caspin@internode.on.net