The Meaning Behind Nanki Nezulne (Our Two Spirits)

Nanki Nezulne is a term derived from a sub-group of people called Dakelh, or also known as Carrier, which is one of the 31 Northern Athabaskan Indigenous languages and geographic sub-groups of the Athabaskan Language Family. Dakelh/Carrier People originated in Northern Central British Columbia.

Dependent on the dialect of the Dakelh translation, Nanki Nezulne has several translations to English. One of them translating to “Our Two Spirits”. Nanki Nezulne program staff strive to reach their ambitious goal to provide all Dakelh dialects and translations of Nanki Nezulne through collaboration with Dakelh language knowledge holders within Carrier and Sekani territories. We hope we can help restore and prioritize the sharing of Dakelh language within our 11 membered nations.

With approval and consultation from Dakelh language knowledge holders, Nanki Nezulne program staff felt this particular Dakelh term and translation accurately characterized our program’s mission, goals, services and the Carrier Sekani First Nations people to which it is intended to serve.

We wanted to demonstrate our appreciation and acknowledgement towards traditional First Nations’ culture, values, beliefs and embrace the importance of language by using Dakelh dialect as our primary program name.

In addition, we wanted to honor the traditional ceremonial and social role of a third-gender, fluid sexuality, gender, and/or spiritual identities in Indigenous communities and practices.

The development of the term “Two-Spirit” was proposed by Nisichawayasihk Cree and Métis First Nation Albert McLeod in 1990, at the Third Annual Inter-Tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Two-Spirit is an umbrella term used within some Indigenous communities to address the complex understanding of Indigenous culture, gender roles, spiritual identities and sexuality. It is important to recognize that not all 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous People accept or identify as Two-Spirit. For many, the term “Two-Spirit” is considered as a community organization tool and not an identity.

We humbly acknowledge that some Carrier and Sekani community members do not accept the concept that an individual can have “Two Spirits”. We felt that this particular English translation of Nanki Nezulne, “Our Two Spirits” did however, tribute to the traditional pre-colonial roles and practices of gender and sexual fluidity. In addition, “Our Two Spirits” illustrates the holistic, interchangeable, collaborative, and fluid therapeutic relationship between the client, their mental health clinician, Elder/Knowledge Holders and their community.