Two Spirits

Filmmaker Lydia Nibley's PBS-aired Independent Lens documentary tells “the true story of a Navajo boy who was also a girl,” serving up a profile of Colorado native Fred Martinez Jr. while also examining gender roles throughout Native American history. From a young age, Fred felt more comfortable with his feminine side, so he wore make-up and androgynous outfits (his mother supported his right to dress however he chose). Historian Wesley Thomas explains that matriarchal Navajo culture recognizes four genders: female, male, nádleehí (feminine man), and dilbaa (masculine woman), and as a nádleehí, Fred carried on an honorable tradition, since Navajo communities welcomed “two-spirited” individuals rather than treating them like outcasts. With the introduction of Christianity and Western culture, however, traditional gender roles became dominant. A family friend recalls that Fred wanted to “make himself look beautiful” and longed to move to San Francisco or Los Angeles someday, but met with resistance from peers and school administrators. Ultimately, the 16-year-old died in a brutal act of homophobia, becoming one of the country's youngest hate crime victims. To add wider context, Nibley also incorporates the experiences of other Native Americans (from tribes including Comanche, Tongva, and Oglala Lakota) who have come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender individuals, and the film explores how some are working to revitalize traditional notions of two-spirit people. A thought-provoking documentary about a little-known aspect of indigenous culture, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)