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SEARCHJune is National Indigenous History Month, a time to honour the history, heritage, resilience, and accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We encourage our community, especially settlers on Indigenous land, to learn about Indigiqueer and Two Spirit experiences this month and support Indigenous organizations and community.
Out In Schools has curated the following playlists with films by Indigenous storytellers for educators to bring into your classrooms this month.
To access films and lesson plans, educators can register to join our free Film Catalogue.
Re-Emergence (8 min)
A documentary celebrating the 35th anniversary of the coining of the term “Two-Spirit” in 2025, and how its catalyzed cultural reclamation for Indigenous communities.
EQ (6 min)
Orene Askew (aka DJ O Show) wants kids “to turn on the television and see someone that looks like them.
Woman Dress (6 min)
Pre-contact, a Two Spirit person named Woman Dress travels the Plains, gathering and sharing stories. Featuring archival images and dramatized re-enactments, this film shares an oral story from the director’s family, honouring and respecting Woman Dress without imposing colonial binaries on them.
Re-Emergence (8 min)
A documentary celebrating the 35th anniversary of the coining of the term “Two-Spirit” in 2025, and how its catalyzed cultural reclamation for Indigenous communities.
The Healer (5 min)
Wendy speaks to her experiences as a Two-Spirit elder, about her coming out process and aging.
Rêve ton futur – Tobi (5 min)
Meet Tobi: 18, young queer, Two-Spirit, transmasculine, lesbian.
If you made use of these resources, we would love to hear how your lessons went and any other feedback! Get in touch with us at info@outinschools.com.
We are thrilled to announce filmmaker and multimedia artist Thirza Cuthand as our Visiting Artist in Residence.
Thirza Cuthand (Plains Cree, Scot) has been making short experimental narrative videos and films about sexuality, madness, youth, love, and race since 1995. She is a prolific and well-travelled artist, having screened films at dozens of festivals across the world, including New York City, Sao Paolo, Toronto (Hot Docs and ImagineNATIVE), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Germany, and right here at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
Thirza was the first Indigenous artist to curate an entirely two-spirit program at the Festival, Indigiqueer in 2005. Festies will remember Thirza’s films 2 Spirit Introductory Special $19.99 (2016) and Two Spirit Dreamcatcher Dot Com (2017). Thirza returns to the Festival this year with an artist-in-conversation screening delving deep into her 20 years of film work. And stay tuned for a future surprise engagement with Thirza at the Festival!
Thirza’s visit is generously supported by Vancity.
