BEMIDJI — While the nature of his work transcends brick and mortar, Leech Lake Band member Arnold Dahl-Wooley has long sought a physical location dedicated to LGBTQ2S+ advocacy.
After years of dreaming, his vision would be realized as Two Spirit Advocacy.
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The new facility, located at 802 Paul Bunyan Drive in Suite 16 of Bemidji’s McKenzie Place complex, was commemorated with a grand opening with honored guests on Friday evening as well as an open house on Saturday.
The space aims to provide outreach, resources and social groups for the area’s LGBTQ2S+ community and its allies.
“We’re about suicide prevention, anti-bullying and cultural inclusion,” Dahl-Wooley said. “This is the first of its kind in the area, which is groundbreaking.”
Dahl-Wooley previously held support groups at various facilities including the Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming — a Native American, female-led nonprofit organization focused on health and wellness — which is also housed in the McKenzie Place complex.
Mewinzha’s Natalie Nicholson, who serves as a family nurse practitioner, has known Dahl-Wooley through martial arts, as the pair both earned their black belts at the same dojo.
“So we became friends,” Dahl-Wooley added, “and she also knew what I have been doing for years with my public speaking. She’s seen my presentations about outreach, intervention and cultural inclusivity, and she goes, ‘Do you want to have your social groups at our facility in Mewinzha?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ ”
Their connection would pave the way for Two Spirit Advocacy to open its doors in one of Mewinzha’s former suites. Nicholson expressed appreciation for the work done by Dahl-Wooley and his husband, Matthew.
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“We’re happy to have you guys be a part of our organization and that you’ve dedicated this space and worked so hard to put it together to meet the needs of our community,” Nicholson said during Friday’s grand opening. “We’re proud that you’ll lead in terms of Two Spirit advocacy, and we’re proud of the work that you guys do from your heart and your passion.”
‘I am not politics’
While humble in size, Two Spirit Advocacy includes a wealth of resources and character. An inclusive library contains books representing those in the LGBTQ2S+ community and people of color. A “Wall of Fame” displays photographs and biographies of LGBTQ2S+ celebrities and politicians.
“A lot of people may say ‘Where are the LGBTQ2S+ people? Is there anybody on television or anywhere else?’ ” Dahl-Wooley said, “so we have a wall of fame, just a small glimpse that we’re everywhere.”
As one of the guests taking in their surroundings, White Earth member Jan Syverson serves as a tribal liaison for an organization that aims to eradicate poverty throughout northwest Minnesota.
“When I was a teenager, we didn’t have this kind of stuff,” Syverson said. “We weren’t celebrated. We weren’t talked about, so a lot of shame builds up around these kinds of things. … It just warms my heart to have something like Two Spirit Advocacy.”
Along with dispelling stigma, Dahl-Wooley aims to address politicization of the LGBTQ2S+ community through Two Spirit Advocacy.
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“People try to make this some political aspect when it’s not. We exist,” he said. “I am not politics.”
Dahl-Wooley expanded on Matthew’s support and contributions to Two Spirit Advocacy’s opening as well as its future success, which may include expansion.
“One person can’t do this by themselves. It does take a community, and Matthew’s the best part of my community,” he said. “A few years down the road, we’ll see if expansion will be needed. Right now, I’m just ecstatic that we have a space.”
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