San Francisco, CA. On Saturday Feb. 10, 2024, the 13th Annual Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) Two Spirit Powwow will be held at Fort Mason-Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, California, from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
BAAITS Powwow Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Jessica Gutierrez Masini, Tzapotl Flores, and Bridie Johnson welcome attendees to the 13th Annual BAAITS Two-Spirit Powwow—the first established and largest public stand-alone Two-Spirit powwow in the world. This year, we are commemorating BAAITS's 25th Year Anniversary!
For the past 25 years, Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) has been creating sober gathering spaces and events for the Two-Spirit & IndigeQueer community in the Bay Area and beyond. Originally founded in 1999 by Two Spirit community members organizing the International Two Spirit Gathering in the Bay Area, BAAITS proudly continues to grow and expand to welcome Two-Spirits, IndigeQueer, and TG/GNC LGBQIA+ people as they/we learn and reconnect with their/our Indigenous roots. Please join us throughout the year as we continue honoring and celebrating our story!
BAAITS is excited to continue this legacy with a full week of events from February 5, 2024 to February 10, 2024 culminating with the 13th Annual BAAITS Two-Spirit Powwow. These activities are free and open to the public. All are welcome! For more information about the schedule of events, Covid-19 protocols and registration, please visit the BAAITS website: http://www.baaits.org/2024-powwow
The powwow features several head dancers who will honor the event as leaders:
Opening welcome with the Ohlone Sisters:
Carla & Desiree Muñoz (Costanoan Rumsen, Carmel)
Head dancers:
Sky Duncan (Apache)
Peshawn Bread (Comanche)
Head Gourd dancer:
Matthew Reed (Osage/Laguna Pueblo)
Arena Director:
Buffalo Barbie (Diné)
Drums:
Northern Drum: All Nation Singers
Southern Drum: Jeremy Bear
Co-MC's:
Coy McLemore (Kiowa)
Dustina Abrahamson (Shoshone)
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) is a community-based volunteer organization offering culturally relevant sober activities for Native American Two-Spirits and IndigeQueer, TG/GNC LGBTQIA+ peoples, their families, friends and accomplices/allies. BAAITS exists to restore and recover the role of Two-Spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community by creating a forum for the spiritual, cultural and artistic expression of Two-Spirit people.
The BAAITS Powwow is an all-volunteer-based annual event. Please consider supporting BAAITS efforts to celebrate and honor our Two Spirits people: http://give.classy.org/BAAITSpowwow2024.
For more information, please visit the BAAITS website: http://www.baaits.org
Everyone is welcome. This is a family-friendly, sober event. Street attire is encouraged for non-Natives. This event is wheelchair-accessible. Please leave costumes at home.
COVID-19 PROTOCOL:
Our powwow is open to the general public this year. We will require masks, and will have them available for all present. We suggest KN-95 masks or better. Attendees are strongly encouraged to seek vaccination for a COVID booster, RSV and Flu vaccine weeks prior to the event.
Please only eat outside. We will have seating for eating available at the Firehouse, close to the main entrance. Please keep in mind the health of our community elders and children—they are being affected more by new COVID variants, RSV and the Flu. We are offering a virtual live stream for those who cannot be there in person. We encourage community members who are experiencing cold-like or Flu-like symptoms to join us from the comfort of your home. You can always join us in person next year or at other BAAITS events throughout this year.
More information: https://www.baaits.org.