Creating Safer Learning Pathways for Wabanaki Two Spirit Youth 

Across the Atlantic region, the Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance (W2SA) is working to ensure that Two Spirit (2S) youth can access safe, culturally rooted spaces for learning, leadership, and connection. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada grant, this project will strengthen opportunities for Two Spirit youth through seasonal land-based gatherings, travel support, and access to documentation and communication tools. Together, these activities will help youth engage with traditional knowledge, develop leadership skills, and take their place as teachers and learners in their communities. 

Strengthening Two Spirit Leadership and Cultural Revitalization 

This initiative will expand on the work of the Wabanaki Two Spirit Youth Council (W2SYC), a youth-led body formed in 2023 that now includes more than 20 active members representing Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Peskotomuhkati, and Penobscot communities. Through gatherings, naming ceremonies, and community visits, the council has become a powerful platform for cultural resurgence and leadership development. The new project will help sustain this momentum by supporting youth travel, hosting intergenerational learning events, and documenting their knowledge and stories for future generations. 

“This grant will allow 2 spirit youth to build capacity and connection, create relationships and work together to sustain a vibrant and important community. It will allow them to create change on a personal and community level, giving space for us to address barriers to equity and diversity across Wabanaki” says the team. 

Addressing Barriers to Culture and Connection 

Two Spirit youth across Wabanaki territory often face exclusion from both mainstream LGBTQ+ programs and traditional Indigenous spaces. Many report being denied access to ceremony or made to feel unsafe in community settings that do not affirm their identities. The result is isolation, disconnection from culture, and limited access to culturally relevant learning. 

Land-based education, a cornerstone of Indigenous identity and wellness, is also difficult to access due to geography and cost. Wabanaki territory spans four provinces, and many youth live in remote areas without means to travel for gatherings or ceremony. These challenges, echoed in research by W2SA and national organizations, show an urgent need for dedicated, culturally safe spaces where Two Spirit youth can learn, heal, and lead. 

Led by and for Two Spirit Communities, with Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation 

The Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance is uniquely positioned to deliver this work as a trusted regional organization grounded in Indigenous knowledge and governance. Through support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, this project contributes to a national effort to remove barriers to learning and belonging for youth. 

Beyond financial support, Catapult provides opportunities for collaboration, connecting W2SA with organizations across the country that are building more inclusive, community-driven, and culturally grounded education.