Event Description
Join the Drexel University Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and the Office of Equality and Diversity in welcoming Sheldon Raymore, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and
Native American Storyteller, to Drexel. Sheldon will speak about the concept of Two Spirit people
and their places in today’s contemporary Indigenous societies. The term
"Two-Spirit" is a pan-indigenous term agreed upon in 1990 at
an Indigenous LGBTQ gathering in Manitoba, Canada. The term is intended to
unite Indigenous Cis-gender & Transgender, gender fluid, gender queer, and
gender non-conforming people under one spirit name. The concept of being
Two-Spirit can be translated from many Native cultures and languages. Two
Spirit people in the histories of many Native peoples were revered and uplifted
by their respected tribes before the devastating effects of colonization.
Two Spirit people in fact predate the modern LGBTQ movement. In
preparation of World AIDS Day, Raymore will share some of the current data, PSA
materials, and information in relation to the effects that HIV/AIDS hashad on the Two-Spirit population.
REGISTER:
https://drexel.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMucempqzMtGtY1Yte3GBNE5uwP_M8yC9HU
Open to the public.
Speaker Biography
Sheldon Raymore is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and lives in New York City. He's a Native American Storyteller, 2nd Generation Tipi Maker, Visual Artist, Actor, Choreographer, Cultural Consultant, and an award winning Grass Dancer. Since 2014 his mission has been to increase HIV/AIDS awareness, sexual health education, and accessibility of PrEP services for the Two Spirit community and beyond. He is the creator of www.PrEPahHontoz.com which provides an enriching awareness experience, with culturally competent and appropriate methods of increasing PrEP awareness. The PrEPahHontoz Tipi project has toured all over the United States and as far away as Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Tipi Project decreases social and cultural stigma's associated with HIV/AIDS, and HIV Prevention. It also disseminates correct information about HIV and it's history in the Native American community, while utilizing "culture as prevention." |
