Dr. James Makokis, a two-spirit Plains Cree physician from Saddle Lake Cree Nation, leads the Humble Lodge near Pigeon Lake, Alberta—a safe, inclusive space offering two-spirit and trans Indigenous youth ceremonies that celebrate their identities. The Humble Lodge hosts an annual two-spirit fasting camp, a rite of passage ceremony traditionally held at puberty but adapted here to embrace all gender identities, fostering resilience, self-esteem, and community connection.
Participants fast for four days in a willow-constructed sweat lodge, living in nature while engaging in ceremonies that honor their identities beyond the gender binary. The camp includes health monitoring by Makokis and medical staff, blending Indigenous healing practices with Western medicine. The event draws a diverse group, from youth to elders, many reconnecting with ceremonies lost due to colonialism.
The camp’s inclusive environment allows participants to express themselves freely, strengthening their cultural ties and mental health. The rite culminates with a communal feast and gifting ceremony, symbolizing love, kinship, and belonging.
Makokis aims to expand the program year-round, integrating Indigenous knowledge, medicine, and education to rebuild the Nehiyaw health system. Central to this work is dismantling patriarchy, homophobia, and transphobia, promoting sâkihitowin—love—as the ultimate medicine for healing and community.
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