Michele
Michele Pinkham (Two-Spirit Nimiipuu/he/him/she/her/they/them)
Michele Pinkham is a 61-year-old who has no preferred pronouns but does identify as a two-spirit Nimiipuu (Nimiipuu is the Nez Perce First Tribe of Idaho). Child, parent, and grandparent, Michele has received uninhibited support from loved ones, but their journey was not without struggle. They always knew they didn’t feel at ease just being female and found themself alternating between glam princess and rowdy football player. It wasn’t until they moved to Vancouver, after their sons became self-sufficient, that they learned what two-spirit is and a lightbulb clicked in their head- two-spirit spirit summed up a part of their identity they spent a lifetime trying to define. They’ve been in NARA Northwest’s employ for 13 years, and although they can’t see themself not working, when they do retire, they’re going to move back to the Nez Perce Reservation, where their roots are.
Audio Stories | Transcripts
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