Two-Spirit Dry Lab

Two-Spirit Dry Lab (2SDL) is a pioneering research group on Turtle Island dedicated to the study of Two-Spirit people, communities, and experiences. Bringing together Indigenous and settler researchers and community leaders, their work focuses on the intersections of Indigeneity, gender, sexual orientation, and geography. With a commitment to improving the lives and well-being of Two-Spirit and other Indigenous individuals, the 2SDL promotes wise practices in sex and gender research and generates new knowledge.

Serving as both a capacity-building and discovery function, their goal is to develop promising research practices specifically for Indigenous and Two-Spirit studies and identify factors that enhance the health of Two-Spirit individuals. The 2SDL operates as a "Dry Lab," conducting research on computers rather than traditional laboratory equipment. This initiative was established in response to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, supported by the Community-Based Research Centre, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences.

With a vision of fostering a thriving network of Two-Spirit health researchers, leaders, and knowledge users, alongside settler-allies, their research aims to understand how Two-Spirit facilitates access to health information and well-being for Indigenous sexual and gender minority individuals