Mission
Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal is an international, peer-reviewed health journal dedicated to advancing the wholistic wellbeing of 2-Spirited, Indigi-queer and Trans (2SIQT) Peoples. Here wholistic health is understood as encompassing the body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Recognizing the systemic gaps in health outcomes, research, policy, and care, we center Indigenous knowledge systems to help rectify ongoing colonial harm and uplift community voices.
Our mission is threefold. Firstly, to help bridge the gap in health equity. Secondly, to amplify 2-Spirit leadership and perspectives. And finally, to foster ethical collaborations rooted in reciprocity.
Scope
We welcome interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary contributions that engage critically with topics of 2SIQT health, wellness, sovereignty and emancipation. Primary research is prioritized for publication, though secondary research such as scoping reviews are considered if they offer a novel perspective or address a gap in the contextual understanding of a given topic. While our journal is embedded in the experiences and needs of 2-Spirited Peoples across Turtle Island, we welcome submissions that fit within our mandate from across the world.
Some examples of broad topics that fall within our scope:
Indigenous knowledge and praxis
- Decolonial, strengths-based frameworks or projects
- Land-based, traditional, spiritual or healing practices
- Theoretical works that challenge oppressive systems like heteronormativity, imperialism and patriarchy
Policy and advocacy
- Policy-driven health equity initiatives (e.g. food sovereignty, harm reduction)
- Localized or international perspectives on gender diversity, sexual health, Indigenous rights, or restorative justice
Narrative or lived experience
- Non-conventional submissions including storytelling, autoethnographies, oral histories, poetry and prose are welcome pending the parameters of the latest call for submissions as seen in the 'Announcements' section.
Editorial Policy
The views and opinions expressed within the Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal belong solely to the authors. They do not necessarily represent the perspectives of the Editors, the Editorial Board or affiliated Knowledge Keepers, and publication does not constitute a tacit endorsement by this journal.
The Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal is committed to upholding Indigenous research ethics and scholarly integrity. Authors are responsible for ensuring their research is presented honestly, without falsification or plagiarism. It is a requirement that authors properly acknowledge and cite the works and contributions of others.
Editors at the M2SHJ will recuse themselves from handling any manuscript where a conflict of interest may arise.
The final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of any submission rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who will consult with the Editorial Board.
M2SHJ editors are dedicated to honouring the rights of its authors. Permission is sought for the use of an author's ideas in any and all editorial or promotional contexts. All allegations of misconduct are treated with strict confidentiality, which may include reporting to relevant ethics boards. This journal is committed to addressing any ethical concerns promptly and will engage directly with the involved author(s). If such concerns arise, promptly contact our managing editor at [email protected]. Thank you.
Research Ethics
The authors of all research submissions will be asked to verify that their research was conducted in careful accordance with the ethical requirements of their institution, granting agency, Indigenous community or other relevant bodies. In instances where no formal governing body exists, the onus is upon the authors to exhibit how their research was guided by the reciprocal or otherwise meaningful inclusion and leadership of participatory 2SIQT Peoples.
Open-Access Policy
The Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal provides immediate access to its content, believing that the free flow and exchange of information helps create a better informed and more equitable world. Our open-access philosophy helps ensure we can carry our emancipatory aims as wide as possible, spreading awareness while contributing to networks of solidarity. Published under the Creative Commons Open Access model, all contents of the journal are for anybody to download, read, and disseminate for educational purposes with appropriate credit given to the source.
Miskwaabiimag: What's in a Name?
The journal’s name was chosen through a collective process rooted in ceremony, language, and representing the 2-Spirited, Indigi-queer and Trans community voice. On April 4, 2025, during the 2-Spirits Annual Gathering, more than one hundred 2SIQT community members from across Ontario convened. On the fourth day of the conference, the 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations organized a Learning Circle for 2-Spirit Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community leaders. This is where 15 participants helped guide the journal’s naming decision.
During the circle, we shared an update about launching our new journal and invited suggestions for its name. After much discussion, a consensus was reached: Red Willow. Elders and Knowledge Keepers explained why Red Willow is the best fit for a 2-Spirits health journal, the first of its kind. For 2SIQT People, the red willow tree carries both symbolic and practical meaning. Its flexible branches are adaptable, with the ability to bend without breaking, representing the resilience of 2SIQT communities who persevere despite ongoing challenges. The vibrant red bark signifies life and protection, connecting directly to bloodlines, kinship, and the strength of ancestors who forever guide present and future generations. For many First Nations, the red willow has sacred uses. It is gathered for sweat lodge purification, lodge building, smudging, and other spiritual practices, humbly offering to cleanse, to ground, and to renew. Its medicinal and ceremonial uses remind us of the inextricable interconnection between the land, the body, and the spirit. For 2-Spirited, Indigi-queer, and Transgender People, the red willow is a living symbol of identity, survival, and balance: strong yet pliable, sacred yet pragmatic, deeply rooted yet always growing.
Following this, one of our Elders, together with our Language Keeper, translated the name into Anishinaabemowin, giving the journal’s name: Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal. This process reflects how our name emerged. It was not from individual choice, but through shared reflection, ceremony, language teachings, and the wisdom of our 2SIQT Elders.
Journal Logo
The Miskwaabiimag 2-Spirits Health Journal logo was designed by Michael Campbell, the Junior UX Designer working at the 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations.