About Us (3)
The Two Spirit Society of Denver Council Structure
The Two Spirit Society of Denver has appointed co-leadership of the group to Aimee Wilson and Marcus Strong. Co-leadership was decided upon by the group to assure a balance in the leadership and greater leadership contact in the community. Co-leadership is also more in keeping with the native traditions.
A dedicated core group of members maintain the Two Spirit Society of Denver by planning and staging activities, creating and maintaining a website, managing internal structures, and interfacing with the community.
Marcus Strong (Rosebud Lakota) Due to his academic schedule and needing to focus more intently. He has had to make a hard chose to temporarily step away from the Directorship. Marc's family is from Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. He is in a doctoral program at UC Denver in genetics. He was brought into the powwow circle as a southern straight dancer and hopes to start dancing northern traditional soon. Marc became co-director in August of 2010. He also enjoys traditional singing and quilting. He is passionate about educating people about two spirit traditions. |
Aimee Wilson (Cheyenne/Tewa Pueblo ) Co-director Aimee's family comes from both Northern and Southern Cheyenne and San Ildefonso Pueblo. Her family is very involved in the Denver Indian community. Her grandmother is one of the elders in the community here that does traditional buckskin and beadwork. Aimee has been a member of the society for three years and became co-director in February 2011. Aimee enjoys traditional singing and dancing. |
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Harrison Alexander (Chickasaw, Cherokee) Treasurer Ale' Castro (Mexica) Secretary |
Joey Criddle (Jicarilla Apache) Joey is Jicarilla Apache but was raised on the Choctaw reservation in Mississippi. He is one of the founding members of the society. Started in 1999, Joey served as co-director for nine years. He is currently the head singer and drum keeper for the society. Joey has been involved in the two spirit community for 14 years. He is a southern straight dancer and enjoys powwows, singing and dancing. He also enjoys beadwork and making traditional regalia. Joey was asked to be one of the elders for the Denver Two Spirit Society in December 2010. Joey currently works as a respiratory therapist in Denver, CO. |
Mary Lou Van Voorhis (Eastern Band Cherokee) Mary Lou is Eastern Band Cherokee but was raised in Iowa. She is one of the founding members of the society and was one of the co-directors of the society. She dances southern cloth and enjoys doing beadwork and singing. Mary Lou was asked to be one of the elders for the Denver Two Spirit Society in December 2010. She also does educational presentation on two spirit people and teaches Native American studies. She is currently Assistant Director of Academic Advising at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Mary Lou has 30 years of experience in higher education. |
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The Two Spirit Society of Denver is non-profit organization comprised of a dedicated group of GBLT Native Americans and their partners in the Denver area and Colorado region who are united by their struggle to restore Two Spirit people to their rightful place in the
Sacred Circle. The Two Spirit Society of Denver seeks to achieve this goal using the following methods:
- Provide support for Two Spirit Native Americans
- Provide community outreach to Two Spirit, Native, youth, elders, and the non-Native community
- Provide cultural education regarding traditional Two Spirit functions in Native American Society and guidance in revitalization of that role in contemporary times
- Provide a forum and plan of action for social change in Native American communities
