International Transgender Day of Visibility – March 31, 2026

On this day, we honour the resilience and contributions of Two‑Spirit and Indigenous trans people across Canada. While TDOV is a celebration, it also calls us to acknowledge the realities our people face.

Canadian data shows that Indigenous trans and gender‑diverse people experience higher rates of discrimination than many other groups. Many report harassment in public spaces, barriers to safe housing and employment, and challenges accessing culturally safe healthcare. Community organizations continue to track incidents of anti‑trans violence, with Indigenous trans and Two‑Spirit people often facing the greatest risks.

Despite these realities, our people continue to lead with strength, care, and cultural grounding.

Visibility Across the Territories: Honouring Two‑Spirit and Indigenous Trans Leadership

Across our treaty territories, Two‑Spirit, trans, and gender‑diverse Indigenous people continue to lead, create, and strengthen our communities – often while navigating systems that were never built with them in mind. This year, Ever Sick! Consulting is proud to highlight voices from across Treaties 1 – 4 as part of our commitment to visibility, safety, and community care.

Visibility is not just celebration. It is a reminder of the work still needed to ensure that our people can live safely, openly, and with dignity.

Transgender Across the Treaties

Our first feature highlights trans and gender‑diverse leaders from Treaties 1 through 4. These individuals carry knowledge, creativity, and community leadership that reflect the strength of our Nations. Their stories remind us that gender diversity has always existed within our cultures, long before colonial systems attempted to erase it.

TREATY 1 — AZHA SCHICK
Azha Schick is an Anishinaabe Agokwe (transwoman) from Peguis First Nation living in her ancestral homeland of Winnipeg, Treaty 1. She is a Cultural Facilitator with Velma’s House (Kani Kanichihk), advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and MMIW2SG, and survivor of intimate partner violence and sexual exploitation. Her work is rooted in harm reduction and cultural revitalization guided by her values of sovereignty, anti racism, decolonization, kinship and community healing. She is committed to uplifting our people and creating safer and stronger futures for the next generations.

TREATY 2 — GAYLE PRUDEN
Dancing Bear, also known as Gayle Pruden (she/her), sits with the Black Bear clan. She is a 2-Spirit Elder and Jingle Dress dancer from Little Saskatchewan First Nation, located on Treaty #2 territory in Manitoba.

Gayle speaks Anishinaabemowin fluently and she is proud to speak her language. She believes creator gave her a beautiful gift, her Ojibwe language. She says, “It’s a powerful tool to have your language, speak it as often as you can”.

TREATY 3 — KOHEN MATTINAS
Kohen Mattinas (he/they) from Lac Seul and Constance Lake First Nation is a Two-Spirit trans advocate currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Political Science. Kohen serves on the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Oshkaatisak Council where he has the opportunity to advocate for youth of 49 First Nations at a regional level in areas of Health Transformation, Social Services, and Treaty.

He co-founded a grassroots initiative, Okiniwak, formed in response to Bill 5 and Bill C-5, creating space and empowering youth and community members to learn their histories, uphold their responsibilities to the land, and take collective action to protect their rights and futures. His work is focused on strengthening community-led action and protecting land and treaty relationships.

TREATY 4 — FEATHER WOLFE
Feather Wolfe (she/they) is the pride of Muskowekwan First Nation, a two-spirit Anishinaabe multidisciplinary artist Feather shares her storytelling, humour and talent across Turtle Island and the world. She has been performing in clubs, Pride Parades and First Nations communities and clubs across Turtle Island and her talents have even taken her international.

Three in Treaty Three

This year, we are featuring three individuals who belong to Obishikokaang First Nation, a community where visibility, safety, and representation for trans and gender‑diverse people are needed more than ever. Their leadership reflects the courage it takes to be visible in spaces where support is still growing.

KOHEN MATTINAS
Kohen Mattinas (he/they) from Lac Seul and Constance Lake First Nation is a Two-Spirit trans advocate currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Political Science. Kohen serves on the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Oshkaatisak Council where he has the opportunity to advocate for youth of 49 First Nations at a regional level in areas of Health Transformation, Social Services, and Treaty.

He co-founded a grassroots initiative, Okiniwak, formed in response to Bill 5 and Bill C-5, creating space and empowering youth and community members to learn their histories, uphold their responsibilities to the land, and take collective action to protect their rights and futures. His work is focused on strengthening community-led action and protecting land and treaty relationships.

KIERAN DAVIS
Kieran Davis is a two-spirit transgender Anishinaabe advocate and speaker, working with Indigenous youth and organizations to amplify two-spirit voices across the nation. Kieran’s background as a firefighter and in emergency management with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry ties in with his work supporting youth to reconnect to the land and their culture. Kieran lives in Kenora and is from Lac Seul First Nation, located in Treaty 3 territory.

JORDYN ANGECONEB
Jordyn Angeconeb is a 32‑year‑old Anishinaabe entrepreneur, drag artist, and advocate belonging to Obishikokaang First Nation. They are completing a Bachelor of Criminology and Policing at Wilfrid Laurier University. Jordyn is the founder of Ever Sick! Consulting, where they raise awareness for issues affecting 2SLGBTQQIA+ Indigenous Peoples, provide diversity training to organizations, organize youth programming, and speak at community events on topics such as mental health, gender-based violence, entrepreneurship, internet safety, diversity and inclusion, and politics. They also assist communities on their healing journey by hosting community consultations and creating holistic action plans to support community wellness and advance policy for the wellbeing of 2SLGBTQQIA+ community members throughout Turtle Island.

Why This Work Matters

Two‑Spirit and Indigenous trans people have always been part of our Nations. The challenges they face today are rooted in colonial systems that attempted to erase gender diversity, community roles, and cultural teachings. Visibility pushes back against that erasure – but visibility alone is not enough.

We need safer systems.
We need culturally grounded supports.
We need communities where our youth can grow into adults who are celebrated, not questioned.

At Ever Sick! Consulting, we remain committed to uplifting Indigenous trans and Two‑Spirit voices, supporting inclusive practices across organizations, and creating space for our people to thrive across all treaty territories.

Our communities are stronger when every person is seen, valued, and supported.

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