TWO SPIRITED LEADERS IN SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

Tansi, Edlanete, my name is Joel Pedersen. I’m a member of the Fond du Lac Dene Nation, connected to the Mikisew Cree Nation and the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan. I live in Saskatoon, one of the larger cities in western Canada that was settled with the assistance of the local Dakota people in the 1800’s for the beauty. I’m honored to contribute to Native Max Magazine’s issue, as this month’s theme focuses on Two-Spirited People. My journey to founding a socially responsible community-based health and wellness company has been enriching, and at times, challenging. At Fitness 2J2, we provide health and wellness programming along with consulting in our Indigenous communities, both urban and rural. Since 2011, we have visited over forty communities, providing fitness, self-defense classes for women and youth, and sports camps programming to more than forty-thousand youth and adults. My start to this journey was through my friend Warren Isbister-Bear. Warren is a leader in our community, an honorable First Nations person, and a proud Two-Spirited person. I met Warren over ten years ago while he was an Indigenous Inclusion consultant with the City of Saskatoon’s Community Development Branch. He was instrumental in assisting me with becoming a fitness leader with the city’s Indigenous Leadership program and ultimately starting fitness programming in the inner city of Saskatoon. He and his husband Osemis have been supporters in my journey as a fitness leader, and the Fitness 2J2 programming provided in our community. I was able to catch up with both Osemis and Warren through a video conference call. Here is some of our discussion I wanted to share with the readers.

Warren and Osemis, thank you for meeting up for a chat, during this time of isolation during COVID-19, how are you staying active physically and mentally?

Warren: First of all, I want to thank you for allowing us to be part of this amazing opportunity. I appreciate it, and I’m glad you are taking the time to do this article. As for me, it is very challenging to stay motivated both physically and mentally, but I find that if I don’t have any physical activity in a day, it drains me mentally. That part is a struggle to overcome. So I need one to help out the other sort of a deal, and sometimes it’s the mental part that is weighing more heavily these days during this COVID-19 pandemic we are faced with. However, I do challenge myself to find time to devote to running and being active, especially now that I’m working from home. I give kudos to Charlie [Warren’s and Osemis’ pet dog] who will come to my office (bedroom desk) and whine to play catch. Then I’ll find myself goofing around with him and run around the house for a good five to ten minutes between Zoom meetings.

Joel Pederson talks with Warren Isbister-Bear and Osemis, First Nations two-spirited community leaders who work to ensure a better quality of life for urban First Nations people and families in Saskatoon.

Osemis: As for me, I stay physically active with our dog Charlie. I usually take him for a 5 KM run every other day. I also play hide and seek with Charlie around the house, which helps keep us active and entertained.

This month’s issue of Native Max Magazine is honoring Two-Spirited Peoples. Can you share how important this is to you?

W: We need to see each other, learn from each other, and know that we are not alone, that we matter, and that our stories can be shared with other Two-Spirited peoples who may be struggling or may need to hear that we are all in this together. Kudos to Native Max Magazine for taking the time to create this issue. O: I believe that as a Two-Spirit person, it is essential that we hear from each other’s stories and perspectives during this time. We are living in uncertain times, and we need to encourage each other to stay healthy.

Do you find people in our Indigenous communities becoming more open to Two-Spirited couples and marriages?

W: For the most part, yes, It has come a long way. This next generation is breaking down barriers and is more open themselves and has encouraged families and communities to speak of love, acceptance, and kindness. As Indigenous people, we have always welcomed people into our circles when colonization has disrupted our family systems and the love we had for our people. We are slowly getting back to that place; we are mending the circle again and reclaiming our space within those circles. This is gradually being seen in our communities that practice these foundational and traditional laws of kinship. O: Yes!

Do you see a change in mainstream society with recognizing and respecting Two-Spirited people?

W: In some areas, yes, I do believe that it has got better in some regards. However, with the release of the Final Report on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry (2019), it tells a darker chapter in Canada’s most recent history. What is happening to the most vulnerable people, and that is our Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit (2SLGBTQQIA) people. We must not be complacent as we move forward and paint a picture that it is positive, and we are moving in a positive direction when we have evidence that speaks to the high rate of people who have been murdered. However, I am hopeful that through the release of the National Inquiry, we can challenge these injustices that Indigenous people continue to face and that we continue to challenge systems that create injustices for our people in a respectful and peacebuilding way. We need to challenge leadership to become those trailblazers that pave the way for us to live a better quality of life, and take the lead so others may not face these same injustices and discrimination we had. We honor those who have done so much before us. O: Yes, absolutely!

If you could tell yourself at a young age about being Two-Spirited, what would you say?

W: I would quote Dr. Seuss: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” O: Surround yourself with people who fully accept you and make you feel like you are essential and that you matter.

You are both highly educated people with professional careers; do you feel anything is holding you back in your careers?

W: I wouldn’t say there is much holding me back. I’ve found a great network of friends, colleagues, and community supporters who have walked with me on my professional journey and who have provided guidance and inspiration to continue doing what I can to bring community voice to decisionmaking tables. I’ve always centered my work around the community to ensure that their voices are heard. Plus, its a lot more fun and humbling to be connected to such great community members who have the same goals in mind, which is trying to make a better future for our nieces, nephews, and those coming after them. O: Nope! I’ve worked in a variety of different professions in both mainstream and Indigenous organizations, and both have valued my work ethic and my skills. What I find in non-Indigenous organizations is that there is still a lot of learning and work needed to be done in the area of Indigenization, inclusion. We have a strong and growing pool of Indigenous talent, but organizations don’t seem to be ready to let go of the old narrative about Indigenous people.

Where do you see yourselves in five years from now?

W: Probably doing the same thing, looking at creative and innovative ways to empower and equip the next generation of Indigenous leaders. O: I love where I am right now; working for a great Indigenous organization that truly values and appreciates me as a person and values my contributions to the work environment. I love what I do and how I can contribute to a better quality of life for urban First Nations people and families in Saskatoon. Thank you, Warren and Osemis, for sharing with us some of your strength and determination. I am so grateful to know you both and to have shared some of this journey with you both. Megwich Hiy Hiy.