Shaneequa Brokenleg (she/her), a Two-Spirit member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Episcopal priest, offers a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be Two-Spirit and the significance of this identity within Lakota culture. Having navigated between Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds, masculine and feminine, and church and secular spaces, Shaneequa sees herself as a cultural translator, helping people and institutions navigate differences and better understand one another. Her experience of homelessness as a teenager deepened her compassion for others and informs her work supporting Indigenous communities and advancing racial reconciliation. She also explores how historical trauma disrupts the transmission of cultural DNA across generations, and why healing those wounds is essential to breaking the cycle. Shaneequa reminds us that even when life knocks us down, we can honor our grief and discover new possibilities for growth.

Shaneequa Brokenleg is the Staff Officer for Racial Reconciliation and Interim Indigenous Missioner for The Episcopal Church. She holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Before the seminary, she worked as a clinical epidemiologist with experience in public health practice and research.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate leader, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented professionals to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Shaneequa and Shanti at the campfire:

• Exploring the distinction between coming out and coming in within Lakota culture.
• Explaining how pronouns work differently in the Lakota language and why Shaneequa uses she/her in English.
• Understanding why being in right relationship is essential to healing and allyship, and why relationships move at the speed of trust.
• Discovering why Shaneequa embraces confluence over intersectionality as a way of understanding our shared struggles and common humanity.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com

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