Date Approved
12-13-2023
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Social Innovation (M.A.)
Degree Program
School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration
First Advisor
Dr. Azfar Hussain
Second Advisor
Dr Dawn Ruteki
Third Advisor
Dr Raymond Higbea
Academic Year
2023/2024
Abstract
Two-Spirit identifying individuals have significant challenges in today's world as they navigate
the resources at their disposal. Once highly revered within their tribal communities, these people
held important roles amongst their respective societies but now fight for services they used to
provide for their nations. The implementation of a patriarchal society along with religious
fundamental belief systems following the arrival of white settlers resulted in traditions, spiritual
practices, language, and identity were stolen from the Indigenous Peoples on what is known
known as North America. This work analyzes LGBTQ+ organizations nationwide and how they
serve Two-Spirit populations. With over 2000+ surveys formatted a distributed to willing
participants within the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan, and a review of the aggregated
data, steps were established to design a model that honors the sovereignty and continuing healing
of tribal nations while formatting programming to address the unique needs of Two-Spirit
peoples outside tribally led organizations. Findings concluded that a model to assist rather than
to dictate was the best approach for communities that have suffered greatly as a result of
outsiders attempting to come in and “fix” an established problem. The design model is comprised
of a variety of tactics that can uplift already existing programming and taking a back seat to the
creation of new.
ScholarWorks Citation
Mandoka, Catherine Diane, "The Historical Underrepresentation of Two-Spirit People and the lack of services within LGBTQ+ Centers across North America: A guide to address offering support" (2023). Culminating Experience Projects. 408.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/408
