Tulsa Activist Spotlight:
John-Wako Hawk Ferris Co-Cke'
“Hey, chica. Do you mind if I call you chica?” John-Wako asked within the first two minutes of this interview. “I don’t mind”. I replied. “Some of my best friends call me chica”.
Prior to the virtual screening of Being Thunder (a documentary about Two-Spirit Indigenous teen, Sherente Harris) at this year’s Twisted Arts Film Festival, I wanted to learn more about the Two-Spirit communities of Oklahoma. Tulsa is fortunate to have Two-Spirit activist and educator, John-Wako Hawk Ferris Co-Cke', leading community groups at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Speaking with John-Wako was like catching up with an old friend.
The Two-Spirit term was adopted in 1990 at an Indigenous international LGBTQ+ conference in Winnipeg, though the idea of one person embodying male and female identities has been documented in Indigenous cultures prior to their colonization and forced assimilation, in which acceptance was replaced with homophobia in many indigenous communities.
"Two-Spirit" was not intended to be interchangeable with "LGBTQ+ Native American". Rather, it was created in English (and then translated into Ojibwe), to serve as a pan-Indian unifier, to be used for general audiences for what are diverse, culturally specific ceremonial and social roles.
John-Wako interprets Two-Spirit as “someone who accepts both of their gender sides and can dive into them when they need to, depending on the situation, mood, and environment.” He believes, while there is still much work to do, attitudes are changing for the better among tribal peers. Younger people are especially more accepting of Two-Spirit individuals, which John-Wako believes has made healthier and stronger communities. “When you have government and tribal protection, it gives one hope to feel safer and allows someone to act more like they are supposed to act”.
I asked John-Wako what allies can do, to which he emphatically replied “EDUCATE! Go to class, learn as much as you can from a healthy Two-Spirit individual and you will have the knowledge to speak to people.” John continued, “Two-Spirits are vital to the well-being of the tribes, they are the last piece to the circle. The hoop represents the Osage Nations and healing happens when the tribes begin to accept Two-Spirited individuals”
Being Thunder will screen virtually at Twisted Arts Film Festival the week of November 11-18, 2021. The complete film festival schedule will be available October 1st at www.twistedfest.org
