About Us

The mission of the Minnesota Two Spirit Society is to promote cultural awareness of Two Spirit people in Minnesota and surrounding communities based on a foundation of intertribal traditions and values.

To contact us, email mn2spirit@gmail.com.

Board of Directors

 

Jase Roe, Chair

Northern Cheyenne

Jase Roe is 41 years-old and was born in Crow Agency, Mont. and grew up in Eagan, Minn.

He identifies as a Two-Spirit and takes pride in being Northern Cheyenne. He is active in the Two-Spirit community and serves on the Minnesota Two Spirit Society and as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors of Out & Sober Minnesota. He has goals of bringing together the Two-Spirit community – in a positive way – in hopes of developing a strong, vibrant community. He also takes pride in being clean and sober since January 20, 2013.

Helping others in the community brings Jase a sense of joy.

 

Vivian Guerra, Vice Chair

Tigua Pueblo of the Ysleta del Sur

Vivian Guerra is the owner of Adobe DeSigns LLC.

Identifies as Two Spirit. Goals are to strengthen the Two Spirit community.

Currently sits on the board of Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce and The Minnesota Minority Goods and Services Assoc.

 

Sue GoodStar, Treasurer

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Sue is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Lake Traverse District. She has an educational background in Sociology/Psychology and Juvenile Justice From Whitwoth College in Spokane, Washington and Chemical Dependency, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy from Sisseton Wahpeton Comunity College. Sue served on the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault for six years while working as an advocate for women and children in abusive homes and relationships. Sue also worked as an Outreach Case Manager for homeless and runaway youth.

Sue was raised with a strong family background where respect for elders and putting other before herself was a must. Her grandmother raised her in the Christian world while her grandfather raised her traditionally. Sue is now a traditionalist and walks the Red Road. While life has not always been easy she has never lost her morals and values that was taught to her during her upbringing. She is very family orientated and credits that to her grandparents.

Sue knew she was Two Spirited from an early age and there were some family members that also recognized this in her. She can remember her Grandpa Charlie say “you be nice to her and protect her because she is a special one” but never knew what he meant until later years when her cousin C.R. said the same thing and told her what was meant by that.

In her spare time Sue enjoys playing with her grandchildren and planning family affairs as well as playing Facebook games. She also enjoys traveling and going fishing and camping and her dog Chaske.

Alfred Walking Bull, Secretary

Sicangu Lakota Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)

Alfred Walking Bull is an enrolled citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. He is the Communications Manager for PFund Foundation, the grassroots community foundation serving the LGBTQ community in the upper Midwest. He is also the former Managing Editor of The Circle News in Minneapolis and served as the Communications Specialist for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

He attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., where he studied journalism and fine arts. He is a graduate of the American Indian Journalism Institute, a project of the Freedom Forum, dedicated to increasing representation of Native American people in newsrooms across the country.

Alfred’s background also includes political organizing for elections, issues and community. He identifies as gay, queer, Two Spirit and a person of faith. His hobbies include reading, designing and percolating the perfect cup of coffee.

Michael “Budd” Annette, Jr., Board Member

White Earth Band of Ojibwe

I was born in Bemidji, Minnesota and currently live in Minneapolis but I have lived all over northern Minnesota.

I love volunteer work for the LGBTQ2IA Community, and love being involved in the Minnesota 2 Spirit Society, anything that makes a difference, and can bring us closer together is my passion, and i believe that awareness and education are the way to make it happen.

 

 

 

 

 

Mo Mike, Board Member

Cree

Biography coming soon.

 

Debra Williams, Board Member Emeritus

Ojibwe

Debra has most recently worked as a Special Education Assistant for Minneapolis Public Schools. She is currently studying Ojibwe language at the University of Minnesota.

She has organized Two Spirit groups beginning with American Indian Gays and Lesbians in the 1980s. She helped organize the second and tenth International Two Spirit Gatherings. She also was a part of lesbian of color group that hosted forums, speakers and other community events. She served on the board of Philanthrofund Foundation for three years.

Debra plans to use her experience with organizing in the Two Spirit and LGBT communities to build a group that is supportive of Two Spirit community members.