Trans And Native: Meet The Indigenous Doctor Giving Them Hope | AJ+

What is it like to provide trans care on an Indigenous reserve that serves 2,400 people in central Alberta? For this Two-Spirit Cree doctor, it's more than his job. Dr. Makokis created a unique approach to transgender care, combining Indigenous and Western teachings. #trans #native #gender
AJ+ followed Dr. Makokis for a day to find out what makes his patients drive 8 hours to see him. Hint: His openness about his identity is a big part of it.
Special thanks to the Enoch Cree Nation Health Center for their assistance with the filming process.
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[@1mobetter99]

"He has helped me accept myself because he accepts himself." This one sentence encapsulates what makes Dr. Makokis such a great and wise physician and a fantastic human being.

[@chavamara]

I really like that Emery worked with his parents to choose his new name. I kind of think of name-giving as representing the bond between parent and child, so involving his parents in choosing his new name really reinforces that. I'm glad Emery has such an accepting and supportive family. :)

[@uddelhexe3545]

It is so sad what european immigrants have done to cultures who were in terms of gender-acceptance so much further developed. They pushed insane and unhealthy ideas based on a strict religion on these people, though they were the ones with the better understanding. People like him, standing up, gaining back what their culture once possessed, and help other people to feel whole and accepted again is a big and honorable task. If this world needs warriors: it needs more like him!. Doing such great work to help others, and show people they are valued and loved and important just the way they are.

[@petrichorweather350]

Exactly! Please remember the correct term is colonizer though not immigrants🖤

[@radubradu]

lol, there is zero proof to support this, native cultures were probably as homophobic as any

[@ashleywhite1220]

That is a great doctor, it is wonderful to have someone who is a part of the community be able to guide and treat young trans people into the identity that makes them feel whole.

[@facetioustimes6211]

As a native and trans this is exactly what I was looking for

[@karmaleglass2168]

Im so proud of my Doctor. He has come a long long way and he is even healing the colonizers.

[@reesemalo]

@@shawnbechard3680 I don't think you understand what indigenous means

[@tessy4018]

Fantastic work, doctor. I hope the treatments recommended by the medical community for people suffering from gender dysphoria will become more widely accessible soon!

[@88jameson88]

you mean schizophrenia?

[@Yukinoomoni]

The fact that you are the only one does make me sad - but you are still there, still one, and that is so much more than what most LGBT+ patients get. For Native children, I cannot speak for them, save what I have only been told and shown, and I KNOW you have saved so many lives, of all ages. You are doing blessed, sacred work, and I don't mean religion. I mean humanity. You are doing such beautiful work, despite the odds purposefully stacked against you by colonizers (see the comments below for assholes, sheesh), you are still fighting. You are incredible. As a queer Canadian (colonial), I thank you for your work with queer Canadians, saving their lives... there aren't enough words. Thank you.

[@UniqueEve24x7]

I can’t believe all the negative comments,people are so ignorant

[@Some_Jihadi_Warrior-me1rz]

You do realize that they still kill themselvs right? Facts dont care about your feelings. You cannot tansition to the opposite sex, its biologicly impossible.

[@butterflyblues2917]

This is so heartwarming.

[@MewWolf5]

I love that he has beads on his stethoscope!

[@Nour-ey5le]

this helps as a bicultural trans woman struggling to accept myself. thankyou!

[@jacquie1014]

So beautiful to help others

[@royalzak2670]

how is injecting children with hormones and cutting off their penis helping? wtf is wrong with you people? no wonder the trans suicide rate is so high. I'd kill myself too if i realized i just had my penis lobbed off when i was too young to consider the repercussions.

[@VixenAurora]

@@royalzak2670 How is helping children be happy instead of depressed and suicidal in a society full of transphobic people like you? Gee, I wonder! Think a bit! Gender affirmation surgery doesn't make children suicidal, it does the exact opposite, PLEASE educate yourself!

[@VixenAurora]

@Erick Mandujano Huh? What terms do you think are fake? Suicidal? Depression? Transphobia? Surgery? I literally used all well known terms in my comment.... 🤨

[@justicearcana55]

a dive into educating myself about the two spirit identity brought me here & Dr Makokis is incredible, and so is the work he’s doing!! i hope more young indigenous people are able to get into trans medicine. i

[@0Flow0]

What an icon.

[@isaiastrujillo1]

I just got goosebumps at the end. Society today needs to be more accepting and more opened to things we may not necessarily understand. It could cause the life of someone. This was such an eye opening video, thank you!

[@kizzy8685]

I van see now why 2 spirits have such high positions in past and present i can sense that in this person its amazing

[@duskendawne2239]

The idea of a traditional culture who values and embraces us trans people rather than rejecting us is fascinating to me. It just goes to show that we are people too and we deserve as much love and respect as any other person.

[@nizamzakaria]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful story!

[@sforza209]

That’s cool! I like stories of young successful people!

[@guillermodeltoro1796]

Incredible ❤️❤️❤️

[@miriamsokoowska9001]

So wonderful!

[@Ulyssestoast]

Yes, truly.

[@harveybrooks1460]

I am two spirited but in terms of other. 👦 meant to be 👧. I never got to go through any changes. I encourage youth to explore themselves more to find themselves. It takes a lot to decide on changes. Change is good and change can save lives. I also encourage parents to not go against the change. Do you want a dead child or person on your hands? Or do you want a happier person around forever? My wife wants me to change and she supports it

[@timothyi1969]

I am really hoping they win Amazing Race Canada! :) Great couple!

[@garyindiana2127]

They did!!!!

[@timothyi1969]

@@garyindiana2127 hahah I had no Idea! I am from the UK, we get the episodes a little later here! Haha! Glad it was them, glad it was not Irvina and David!

[@KnightRaymund]

Sorry it was spoiled but so glad they won! And that, yeah, Dave and Irina didn't even make it to the finals.

[@MicahRion]

Thank you for sharing this story of this rad doctor!

[@AlaskanChicka907]

My nephew is two spirited and he is a gifted artist. I love my nephew!

[@khadijagwen]

I am NW American, half Cherokee, and half European and raised European, and am now 72. I knew nothing of Native American Two Spirit until recently. The LGBT I have been around have seen hormones and surgery as the goal. The Native American do not. Learning about my heritage has been so healing. For me there is no sexuality, though I live as a woman. Genetically I am XXY, Non-Kleinfelter's, and AIS to an unknown degree.

[@amrit6252]

Thank you for sharing this amazing story.

[@alejandrodiaz3754]

Great work!

[@jessicaboone1690]

You are doing excellent work, Dr. And you are certainly much needed. You're a beautiful soul. I love you.

[@mrsnegrich]

Referring to Johnny TheWolf’s comment, yes indeed the people (now their descendants, like me) who stole the land of our indigenous people here have so much to learn from the indigenous people, definitely not necessarily the other way around. Hopefully we will all eventually get together as a big happy family and understand and protect each other . Bravo Dr Makokis. It’s such good news to meet people like you and Anthony. All the best to you.

[@andrewdemers1624]

What an awesome video and inspirational person Dr. Makokis is.

[@jinglekenai9967]

Dr Makokis: Great Work, Great Power. I have read How the Two Spirit Youth Commit Suicide. They Need You.

[@loverdeadly6128]

Thank you for everything you do. The world needs more freedom and less fear if we are going to survive.

[@corypowercat7277]

He's handsome. It's awesome that he's doing this.

[@cheshillyard2870]

Wish I was close to chat,I love you and everything you stand for,I watch your videos over and over,they help me so much,keep up the good work Hugs be safe.

[@nt3353]

Great inspiration 💗

[@stevenditomasso3446]

As someone of fully European/White descent,I am disheartened and appalled about what people like me in the past and even present have done to people such as Dr.Makokis-stripping cultures of their own ideas on gender and enforcing harmful ones. But personally,I am enlightened that people have Dr.Makokis haven’t fallen to these ideas and have found a way to mix them to give everyone a better future and understanding of themselves.

[@YoungGreenCard]

such important work! keep it up!

[@nataluehunter5117]

So wonderful the work you are doing Dr. Cudos to you. I am a trans female. I work in the prison system. Needs a lot of work but I’m trying hard to educate and help.

[@RickyLopez123]

Great story. Thank you!

[@ojberrettaberretta5314]

should they have implemented stricter immigration laws against the europeans,or would this have been racist?

[@Userisyin]

Love it

[@pichsopheak]

Love this

[@garyindiana2127]

Thank you this really helps

[@avedahusniyahadara]

THIS IS SOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL

[@Txmoosetim]

as a transgender Native American person myself you should consider yourself lucky you actually got help I'm 4 months in on year number 13 of waiting for GRS here in southern Saskatchewan and this is all as founder of moose jaw Pride where are the pride Revival movement began

[@Txmoosetim]

hell if it wasn't for the transgender people here in Saskatchewan standing up to the Saskatchewan government Pride would still be in the back rooms and side streets of communities

[@martha-anastasia]

We've always been some of the first to fight for our right to be

[@lesley-annemartin6722]

bless you

[@SR-ro4xc]

This is so painful for me to see. I am so sorry about what you all have experienced. I feel you on so many levels. I am not a two spirit but I do have empathy.

[@KhaoticDeterminism]

plurals feel in both but the individual souls don’t necessarily know how each other feels found writing thoughts down to be a great way to help the 2 souls hash our their grievances it’s mostly helping the man let go knowing the woman’s clarity when the pronouns flip to we/us/our it’s natural cheers

[@junjuncamacho8998]

Good

[@mikam4808]

I need this in my area so badly .. I call for help and they do nothing for me

[@user-pd6ij7jm3b]

Be my doctor! 🙌🏼😔

[@ajorbista]

He was on The Amazing Race Canada!

[@lostsiouxlhr984]

hi i have a stream and menny of my camunity are trans and i would like to have Dr. James Makokis on as a guest pls let me know

[@kinlol]

congratulation for AMAZING RACE CANADA CHAMPIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@KCM1]

Icon behavior

[@athenaruna]

beautiful

[@richardashton5015]

Oh dear

[@DoodiePunk]

I love his stethoscope. 😁

[@Theballonist]

❤️💜🧡💙💚

[@marios7554]

If u think about transgender just think about ted kaczynski

[@SR-ro4xc]

This is more rare than what I am seeing on here. It is definitely ok to be two spirit, but not if you are a non native. Ever. And it's way more even than sexuality. It's literally spirit. This is the result of what abusive tactics are done to them. I would much rather the few who are that way to believe they are a gift from God than not. The sad thing is...this is a by product of the Jesuits and the Catholics.

[@maureenbeyal2181]

K ,

[@MrWood-qd6kr]

If you love transgender people, you tell them the truth.

[@coolbuddydude1]

lol

[@veazein2704]

astaghfirullah

[@kingjeremysircornwell7847]

#Victim of #Europe, bro

[@regalizganchito5732]

I wonder if AlJazeera can air anything like that on any of it's Arabic language outlets!

[@angelicazhelez9272]

🤢

[@user-pc7ef5sb6x]

A man is a man. A woman is a woman. Yea, it's that simple

[@mavericks2048]

I agree. Even a 2 year old can figure that out.

[@bayezidhtanu2907]

Happy to see sane people out there.

[@VixenAurora]

Exactly! Simple. But unfortunately, hateful bigots won't accept that, and try to force men and women into bathrooms that don't match their gender because they're creepy and can't keep their noses out of others pants. A man is a man, regardless of what genitals they have or how they appear to you. If someone is a man, they're a man. Don't misgender them, mock them, deadname them, etc....treat people with respect!

[@uddelhexe3545]

@@ELCLAVE300 that might be the dumbest shit i've ever read: "being gay or trans is a choice". Why do feel so threatened by trans or homosexual ppl? You can be happy and cis and straight...why thinkin so much about who others have sex with and with what genitals? I tell you what: this planet is like totally overpopulated by humans...half of us could be gay...and still we would overrun the planet with offspring...so what exactly is it you're so threatened about other than being confronted with stuff you don't understand ir like? Keep thinking about your own genitals and who you do the bongo with and let others live in piece@

[@dislikebutton8789]

Oh this some weird raven spirit bullshiii

[@bunnyboy9438]

I'm ALLL for this I love LGBT and two spirit people infact I am bi BUT INE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS CHILDREN TAKING HORMONE THERAPY, PLEASE IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HOROMONE THERAPY YOU SEE A PROPER LICENSED THERAPIST TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA OR CONGRUENCE, once you start taking hormones you can never go back

[@randyguzman1808]

Bunny Boy not true. If you want to stop taking hormones you can simply detransiton. Do research on my trans community before speaking on it. Also a therapist cannot diagnose you. Therapist are Doctors who you vent to. A psychiatrist is who can diagnose you with gender dysphoria. But a psychiatrist isn't the only person who can diagnose you. You can see a Specialist who deals with gender and transitioning. There are many people who have started hormones and detransitoned just fine. Please don't spread false information unless you have truly researched and studied about us.

[@ssssafia]

Do note that young children do not go on hormones. They go on puberty blockers, which are absolutely reversible (just stop taking them).

[@stuflikethis]

There’s nothing inherently immoral about calling yourself “two spirit” but professionals such as physicians probably should stay away from using made up ideological based terms that have nothing to do with scientific objectivism, especially in their patient and professional interactions.

[@organicsky9487]

First off , he is not a true indigenous. Look it up

[@purpleblueblackify]

😶

[@user-md4ss2do5k]

Just a lot of money going down the drain. This man has no idea what identity crisis is and how to treat it

[@ravenraven779]

Shaaaduuup! Lol.

[@Nour-ey5le]

this helps as a bicultural trans woman struggling to accept myself. thankyou!