Two-Spirit genders & urban herb foraging 

with Bear Silver (he/they), and masharu (they/them)

We began this episode by asking Bear about what it was like to live as a queer person on Paiute Shoshone reservation.

How I describe Two-Spirit:

Two-Spirit is a modern, umbrella term that unites diverse and distinct gender roles and responsibilities that are culturally embedded in some Indigenous cultures. For some Indigenous peoples, Two-Spirit describes a spiritual identity, having masculine and feminine characteristics, being responsible for tasks typically associated with both male and female gender roles, and/or a specific role within traditional societies, as mediators, keepers of certain ceremonies, or middle gender(s).

Bear shared a bit about their life, living as a queer person, and what it means for them, to identify as Two-Spirit. Colonialism has forced many Indigenous practices to morph, merge, and change shape over time. It is clear that stronger ties to the natural environment are embedded in traditional indigenous practices and it is sad that much knowledge, practices have been lost. Bear shared a bit about what they learnt from their upbringing. Bear told us how parts of their upbringing began their interest, passion, and love of learning and foraging wild herbs.

Bear is a person of the Cherokee and Blackfoot people, now living in Amsterdam. The Cherokee are one of the indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. The Blackfoot people is a name given to four Native American tribes in the Northwestern Plains, which include the North Piegan the South Piegan, the Blood, and the Siksika tribes. Before colonisation, they occupied a large territory stretching from the North Saskatchewan River in Canada to the Missouri River in Montana, the U.S. Bear has a studio at the OT301 in Amsterdam. Bear is a queer, Two-Spirit, kinky, warm hearted and bad ass wild herb forager around Amsterdam.

I extend a very big and a very warm thank you to Bear Silver for sharing these personal experiences and insights. I send you extra strength, and laughter for the rest of your journey.

This episode was broadcast live in Amsterdam on 21st May 2021 through radiopatapoe.nl