Two-Spirit Safe Sex Workshop with Teddy Syrette

Open to First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Canadian Indigenous students, faculty or staff (or those who identify by nation or community) at Ryerson University or from other post-secondary institutions across Turtle Island

About Workshop

In this 1-hour workshop, Teddy Syrette will guide participants through a discussion and exploration of safe sex practices for Two-Sprit folks. Teddy will also talk about their own experiences and share their own journey, they will speak about the obstacles they have faced, how they have overcome them. Teddy will also speak on LGBTQ+ and how Indigeneity can factor into a colonial systemic environment. They will speak about mental health, coping and healthy coping mechanisms as well as self-care and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Teddy Syrette

Teddy Syrette (Ozhawa Anung Kwe/Yellow Star Woman) is an Anishinabe Two-Spirit person of Rankin Reserve, Batchewana First Nation (Baawaating). They are an advocate and storyteller for LGBTQ+ and Indigenous people, experiences and histories with a background in social justice, theatre and bingo. 

Teddy is a former alcoholic and has a diploma in social service work in Indigenous specialization. They have travelled around Turtle Island sharing their story and voicing issues of homophobia, transphobia, racism and colonial trauma. Teddy currently lives in Sault Ste. Marie (across the tracks from Rankin Reserve) and lives with their pug, Hortus.

Live captioning will be provided

Ryerson is committed to the accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities. If you require any additional accessibility accommodations to ensure your full participation, please let us know on the registration form or email accessibility@ryerson.ca.

About Indigenous Student Wellness Week

Indigenous Student Wellness Week will bring together Indigenous community members to exchange meaningful routes to wellness through a series of thirteen workshops and talks. In keeping with the 2021 theme “Planting Seeds,” topics include plant-based medicine; Two-Spirit safe sex; stories of creation; mask making; moss bags; music and movement; food sovereignty and traditional Indigenous foodways; reiki; yoga; and meditation. Workshops, talks and demonstrations will be hosted by knowledge keepers, elders and community members to help support the goals of wellness for Indigenous students, faculty and staff in post-secondary education.

We invite Indigenous community members to join in the spirit of learning, sharing, growth and healing in our aim to move towards collective wellbeing.

This event is organized by the Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services (RASS)