The Indigenous Doctor Helping Trans Youth

Alberta, Canada. Doctor James Makokis identifies as "two-spirit" - a term used by and for indigenous LGBT+ people in North America who identify with both masculinity and femininity, and which harks back to pre-colonial third gender roles. On the First Nations reservation of Kehewin Cree Nation, Dr Makokis spends much of his working life supporting other “two-spirit” people, particularly transgender teenagers, many of whom face persecution within their own communities.
One patient Alec, has been seeing the Doctor for a month now and is in the early stages of transitioning from female to male. In addition to hormone therapy the treatment sees Dr Makokis utilise traditional indigenous teachings, drawing Alec away from depressive feelings and towards self-acceptance. This sense of inclusivity and belonging is encapsulated by a two-spirit sweat and talking circle hosted by Dr Makokis. Two-Spirit attendees share their stories in the warmth of a teepee and a new community is formed.
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[@elspethfougere9683]

Tears of happiness seeing this from nz. Thank you so much for sharing these journeys publically, I work in youth sexual health education here in nz, and it's wonderful to see this kind of loving respect and reclamation there too. Bless

[@Nightbird.]

Thank you Dr. James for all you do. We need more heroes like you in every race, gender, shape and color!

[@mercury5668]

I love this so much ♥️♥️♥️ my heart goes out to everyone in this video. I am so happy to be apart of it♥️

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

This is absolutely beautiful. I'm so proud and happy for all of you! Thank you so much for your work, Dr Makokis. You are making the world a better and more beautiful place.

[@Mitsuhurrican]

Thank you to you and your spouse for helping those who have been trampled on and misunderstood. Thank you!!!

[@alocoweed]

The world needs more people like Dr. Makokis

[@Boomsterblak]

awesome.. never give up ..the world is changing ..we must make sure the change is better for everyone..being in Alberta I can see exactly what you mean..Alberta is not the only place where there is discrimination but it maybe the strongest here as far as Canada is concerned..I was mislead by this society but was lucky enough to wake up..Woke.. I guess I am.. but I'm better for it..All Life Matters..Everyone needs to feel they belong..Why..because they do belong..we can not complete this journey with out this understanding..I am so grateful to witness this as I can see we are going in the right direction...soon we will be able to change the Alberta premier to one that understands..Stay Strong..Take Care..A'he'hee!

[@emmawilkinson2663]

Had the honour of attending a presentation by Dr.Makosis at TrentU and I truly appreciate the worked they have done

[@nele1870]

Thank you so much for this beautiful film with beautiful souls. 🙏❤️🌱🌞

[@BlondieSL]

A beautiful couple who share themselves to help others. It just doesn't get better than that.

[@Doulaedmonton]

Thank you so much for all that you do, Dr Makokis!

[@stephtroughton9748]

I am just learning about you both and am so grateful for people like you out there. You're helping to heal the world and seemingly succeeding at it. How lucky are we to be able to listen to your wisdom. Keep creating community and others will follow.

[@mwazowski5662]

Good Good Good! I love how people come together! Don't stop teaching.

[@joydrivenhealer8544]

This is so wonderful and heartwarming! Much love and many blessings. 💗💗💗

[@garfield86053]

Omg I want you to be my doctor. That is so amazing what you do and I cry and smile at the same time. hello from Arizona.. ❤️🙌🏽🥰

[@dynastes292]

I remember the excruciating pain of being stuck in a body that I did not feel comfortable in. I was a great pretender before my transition, but my god the agony. This makes me so, so, so happy.

[@kriskabin]

This needs a part 2,3 & 4! Well done Dr. Makokis!

[@jimw1274]

Happy to see such a positive space for the revival of those that are two spirit.

[@randyguzman1808]

I like this but hearing him being misgendered is hurtful to me as someone who is two spirit. I hope his transition goes well and his family learns to respect his pronouns.

[@Nightbird.]

It takes time..especially for a mother who raised a little girl. But more important than pronouns is the love she has for her child. I would rather have that than all the pronouns in the world.

[@alexmcallister1288]

That is true but you have to remember that trans people experience dysphoria which can cause panic attacks, depression spells and just overall discomfort when being misgendered. Part of loving someone means giving your best effort to respect them and who they are and what they need to be happy

[@randyguzman1808]

Alex McAllister i know, I am transgender. That's why it bothers me to see one of my fellow people misgendered

[@randyguzman1808]

Nightbird personally, my parents didn't grasp at all and neither did My family so I dont talk to them anymore and im much happier. But thats just my experience. It still bothers me to see other trans men misgendered, because I know exactly how it feels.

[@javierlopeztapia5588]

You can’t misgender someone.. gender is a construct

[@robinfischer1259]

Thank you for sharing your heart and your gifts with our world.

[@Kauteryze]

Mercury is really cute! I'm a native transgender female.

[@Kauteryze]

@Erick Mandujano who asked you?

[@Kauteryze]

@Erick Mandujano no one asked you though

[@Kauteryze]

@Erick Mandujano like I said "who asked you?"

[@cactushotsauce362]

@@Kauteryze This is quite late, but ignore them. You are who you are and that's a woman.

[@corypowercat7277]

Awesome. Can't believe I didn't hear about him more soon.

[@scotttate1103]

What a wonderful gift to our people!

[@GAndre-ss8ud]

Thank you for your work Dr. Makokis

[@patrickfirgens6672]

September 10th is my bday😢, 2 spirit here!

[@dorianhorton6805]

He's just one person I thought this was about a movement

[@jealousofmypuddin]

Individual and also couple goals. 💕

[@briennelangen1643]

Thank you so much Dr. Makokis. I gained so much from this video, and I am so grateful for the work you do.

[@SAMoralesTP]

Wow, shot so well and actual COMMUNITY BUILDING CONTENT, this is an awesome documentation. This made me appreciate my privilege as a straight passing bisexual woman, it's great to sort of sit in on these moments with members that can connect in a common ground so swiftly

[@acidtidez6581]

makokis is my new hero

[@t.s.t.4085]

Doctor Makokis: You have come up on my research re: Trans indigenous Youth. How can I help as a Counselor in Higher Education for over 30 years? How may I be an ally (and actually help)? Please let me know.

[@barbaraarisi]

You are an inspiration for us all. I wrote a book titled "Queer Natives in Latin America", with Fabiano Gontijo and Estevao Fernandes. We have to make more people aware that we are pro a diverse world, we exist and we want a future of inclusion. Thanks a lot for your videos, they are great for us educators, activists, parents, all. ;)

[@KURTBLADE]

I was forced to go 6 years after coming out without testosterone and I’m so happy that kid had the resources and love to get the medical help they need

[@patrickfirgens6672]

I found my home!

[@BlondieSL]

My husband and I are so happy for you. In this very difficult world that we live in, that is getting worse, yet again, it's very special to be able to find our "homes". It's truly said, "home is where the heart is." And that has never been truer than right now in our history. 🌈 ❤🧡💛💚💙💜 🏳‍🌈

[@nazukiuchiha2331]

i need to meet this doctor🥺

[@FernTheForestwWitch]

watching this was a roller coaster ride for me. I fight with myself to about if I should embrace my indigenous heritage or not because I do pass for white most of the time and my family (besides my mother whom I’m not close with) doesn’t consider them selfs to be part of the community.

[@bjorn4215]

As someone who feels the same, I’d say learn about it. I’m currently trying to connect to native culture, I’m white passing and live with my white mom, but that hasn’t stopped me from asking questions. If it’s something that’s still bugging you now, a year later, then start learning about it. Start connecting. Good luck:)

[@molotovmafia2406]

This is so wholesome

[@vivianm.varela2602]

Awesome!!!!❤❤❤

[@CJeanneMarie]

I truly want to call myself a two-spirit. I feel I am part of your community and I dream to share a special time like this with you. It feels like home to me 💕 You people are so amazing 🙏

[@elverdad6805]

Interesting. :)

[@pyrogaming5071]

"two spirit OUUU i like that lets make it happen"

[@t-shades7148]

❤❤❤

[@spacebabymadcha8252]

I LOVE YOU

[@selbst105]

two spirit means to have the male and female spirit. two spirit people do not transition. i n my understandung there is no such thing as two spirit trans people. the two spirit people, when i listen to them, say, they want to be seen as who they are as two spirit people. it is not so important to be seen als male as a femal two spirit person. it is important to the twoe spirit person to be seen as her-, himself! as two spirit person! as gifted! as special!a s how they are! to feel loved and appreciated! not a transition is the important, or operations. trans and two spirit are different things according to my understanding. according to how i understand the two spirit people! no? ... the doctor did not make a transition and operation! so what about that?

[@drrd4127]

"I don't have to go to school and study Super hard to be a doctor" Yikes!!!

[@stefs7141]

Yeah, I'd like to see if that guy could practice medicine in an actual public health hospital. What are his credentials?

[@Im-uu5kq]

I can’t put my finger on what red flag concerned me most. Probably what made me step back a little was when the significant other person states, “I can be like a doctor without all the studying.” I hope they practice good medicine and set boundaries regarding the patient-provider relationship.

[@allthatsheiz]

Two spirt to me seems like it would be different than trans. Wouldn’t 2 spirt be one that walks the line almost or shows up kind of half and half exactly. They can represent the thoughts of both groups…….. so why would a two spirit person who is supported and understands their heritage want to transition? Honest question

[@divinusimmortalisomnipraes5786]

AhooooooooooO

[@adrianarizo5618]

Will she continue her family legacy?

[@justmichael3918]

😂

[@adrianarizo5618]

Can we get anybupdates on these children?

[@GabrielleEther]

I think the idea of being 2 spirit is beautiful but from what I hear from the young lady and other people she doesn't resonate with her feminine spirit but moreso her masculine spirit. Isnt it a gift to resonate with both of your sides to be able to help everyone? Like the doctor appears to be doing. Therefore I think the young lady should embrace both of her sides so she wont defeat the purpose of being 2 spirited. If Im understanding correctly.

[@MarkandDebCvitkovich]

Incredible - what a beautiful journey for all of you! My prayers are with anyone feeling like they need a place like this

[@confrontingchaos7593]

Testosterone? Since when was getting injected with artificial hormones a Native American tradition?

[@JK_JK_JK]

Gynecology (n.) also gynaecology, "science of women's health and of the diseases peculiar to women," 1847, from French gynécologie, from Latinized form of Greek gynaiko-, combining form of gynē "woman, female," from PIE root *gwen- "woman." Second element is from French -logie "study of," from Greek (see -logy)

[@adrianarizo5618]

How did it survive? All these hormones are so bad for the kids. Just let the two spirit be who they want.

[@drrd4127]

I am not American but if "two spirit" is an ancient native American label then why is it in the English language? Why not just say non binary?

[@jenniferkee1452]

Maybe bc there's this thing we're people can translate words from another language into another duh

[@bjorn4215]

It’s not ancient, the term two spirit is pretty recent! The term came to life in the 1990’s, as a way to express in a broad sense the feelings native people have towards gender, and today, sexuality. Gender and sexuality has always been sacred to us, we used to have terms that were like two spirit in our individual languages but then those terms were stripped from us, and weren’t able to be passed down as much as they used to be. For some, nonbinary just doesn’t work, since for some people two spirit is more than not being in the binary. Hope to at helps, if not feel free to ask more!

[@BABEEBEEH]

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many- they she or he lol🤣🤣🕊✝️🐻 Check Holy Ghost

[@littlecatfeet9064]

Aah, the ancient indigenous tradition of medical mutilation.

[@badgequeen]

Please look into the harms this is doing to the children. Based on a misinterpretation of hereditary wisdom in this case. And an ignorance of the danger of what he's doing to children.

[@KH-aug]

💯

[@somethingunscripted]

Inclusion through exclusion, woke logic

[@Shalanaya]

As long as inclusion includes that what is self expressing its truth that does not invalidate the same in others, it is an inclusion that honors individuality by demanding destruction of any beliefs, cultures, fears or insecurities as in the teachings of Jesus Christ - sacrificing for an individual. There is no exclusion in this kind of inclusion, it includes that what cultivates inclusion, all else are healthy boundaries. On the other had, anti-woke logic, which has roots in actual fascism and lack of self awareness, it is an exclusion and colonization of a personal self expression, which is then reflected by its discrimination based on that principle that values safety and beliefs more than a validating individual self expression. Viewpoint diversity ALWAYS paradoxically cancels itself out when those views devalue that diversity. Learn the difference between practicing healthy boundaries that narcissists love to gaslight and attack and exclusion based on fear of individual self expression that validates the same in others. People like you need some lessons in philosphy, sociology and history, what I shared with you is a knowledge that's been studied within the academia for decades, which narcissists were trying to undermine all along, because they couldn't get their own way. They are the real problem in alkl of this self projecting their own entitlement to harm and harrass others. This is why there has been a cancel culture in the first place, to prevent the fascism to take hold and preserve the individual freedom of authentic self expression. Anyone who is associating with someone who is invalidating or unaccepting their differences has no self awareness, self worth and its consequent boundaries as a result of doing the same to others. I hope that helps educating you. I would encourage you to practice mindfulness and self awareness, then your eyes might be open to the issue that has been existing within you all along.

[@somethingunscripted]

@@Shalanaya In practice the neomarxist woke movement demonizes those who do not fit what is a protected class to them. ie cis white males.

[@spiderjump]

demonic

[@ginakelley749]

So disappointing to see Native Americans like that

[@flirtyfaun3233]

Like what?

[@tariqp1234]

Nobody needs transphobia

[@looeegee]

@@tariqp1234 Nobody needs trans

[@ShiningGalaxy01]

@@tariqp1234 There are no such thing as transgenders. There is only male, and female, none other else.

[@cliffhines9419]

Troll :)

[@xxx_rotfd_xiii_xii3619]

lol i seen these guys at the mall eating lunch together

[@mantis044]

❤️❤️❤️