Two-Spirit Teachings with Albert McLeod

Name: Two-Spirit Teachings with Albert McLeod
Start: 2025-10-01T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-01T21:00:00-05:00
Location: 203 - 329 Cumberland Ave, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Manitoba R3B 1T2

Schedule

Wed Oct 01 2025 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

203 - 329 Cumberland Ave, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Manitoba R3B 1T2 | Winnipeg, MB

Free! everyone welcome
To mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Elder Albert McLeod will explain traditional Indigenous concepts of gender, the sacredness of gender diversity, the impact of colonization on gender diversity, and the re-emergence of 2Spirit/Indigenous LGBTQI+ people in the 21st century. These are important teachings for MAWA and our community, as we welcome gender diverse participants.
Albert McLeod is a Status Indian with ancestry from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Metis communities of Cross Lake and Norway House in northern Manitoba. He has over 30 years of experience as a human rights activist and is one of the directors of the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba. McLeod began his Two-Spirit advocacy in Winnipeg in 1986 and became an HIV/AIDS activist in 1987. He was the director of the Manitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force from 1991 to 2001. In 2018, McLeod received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Winnipeg and in 2019, a Champions of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. He is a commercial art graduate of Assiniboine Community College in Brandon and experienced in beadwork, Indigenous regalia-making and leather crafts. McLeod is part of the team designing Thunderhead, the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument in Ottawa. He is a current board member of Winnipeg’s Urban Shaman Gallery: Contemporary Indigenous Art.
Accessibility information:
MAWA is located on the second floor of 329 Cumberland Ave. There are 6 steps in the building when you enter from Cumberland (buzz 77 for entry) and an accessible entrance with a ramp when you enter from the east parking lot (call us at 204-949-9490 for entry).
MAWA is on the second floor and can be accessed by one flight of stairs (20 steps). For folks unable to use the stairs, a freight elevator is available (call us at 204-949-9490, and we will bring you up!) The freight elevator is located approximately 30 paces from the ramp entrance and 65 paces from the front entrance. MAWA's space is approximately 15 paces from the elevator.
There are two single occupancy, gender neutral washrooms on the same floor as MAWA. One washroom is large enough to accommodate a manual or standard wheelchair and it has a grab bar, but the toilet is slightly low. However, the footprint is too small to accommodate the turning radius of a power wheelchair. If you let us know you are coming, we will make arrangements to open an accessible washroom on the ground floor. All washrooms are single occupancy and gender neutral.
MAWA opens 30 minutes before each program is due to begin.
ASL interpretation is available for programs with 2 weeks notice.
Visit https://mawa.ca/about/accessibility for additional information on bus routes and parking.