The powwow is one of the many reasons why San Francisco is a major hub for Two-Spirits today. “Being Trans and queer in an Indigenous space, I haven’t always felt comfortable.” “I've never felt more at home than at a Two Spirit gathering or powwow,” says Faun Harjo, who is Muskogee Creek and Chickasaw. You will find them sporting handmade moccasins, striking ribbon shirts, or traditional beaded dresses that sometimes took several months to create. Dancers of all styles who are Two-Spirit (an umbrella term for individuals who are both Indigenous and LGBTQ+, and fluidly move between the masculine and feminine) show up in their finest regalia. The event, which was first held in 2012, is a powerful display of cultural couture.
Every February, thousands of dancers and attendees flock to the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) Powwow in San Francisco, California-the largest of its kind in North America.
