Grantee Database

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS)

Grant Year

2025-26

Grant Program

Impact Projects

Award Amount

$17,500.00

Project Description

CAC Impact Project funds will support the 2026 Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirit (BAAITS) Powwow—the world’s largest public Two-Spirit Powwow and a cornerstone cultural event for Indigenous LGBTQIA+ communities. Held annually at the Fort Mason Pavilion in San Francisco, this free intertribal gathering brings together over 5,000 people for a day of traditional dance, music, ceremony, and celebration led by Two-Spirit and IndigeQueer artists and culture bearers. The Powwow honors ancestral traditions while creating space for contemporary cultural expression, community connection, and intergenerational healing. CAC support will help fund Powwow production, accessibility, and artist participation, ensuring this sacred space remains free and community-led. The event is the culmination of a week of arts and cultural programming produced by BAAITS that gathers and uplifts Two-Spirit people from across Turtle Island.

Organization Summary

BAAITS largest program is our annual Two-Spirit Powwow. At this Powwow all Two-Spirit identified Native American, American Indian, and T-SLGBTQI people and their allies get a chance to come together to celebrate culture, build community, and express themselves. The BAAITS Powwow was the world’s first public Two-Spirit Powwow and we are now the world’s largest. The BAAITs Two Spirit Powwow is modeled after a traditional Oklahoma style Powwow and is an intertribal event that also invites non-Native guests to experience Native cultures. On the day of and the months leading up to the event, we have contact with thousands of people who identify as Two-Spirit, American Indian, Indigenous and allies. We reach them, spread our mission, and gather people from all over the US and Canada to celebrate and heal. Powwow participants feel “ohno cochico”, community love or the way that one feels when they are amongst their tribe. It is a place where we can truly restore and reclaim the role of Two-Spirit people. We do this through cultural expression, getting back in touch with our culture, and ceremony.

Our oldest program, the BAAITS Drum is an all-gender big drum group that meets once a month. BAAITS Drum participates in drumming and community events throughout the year, and drums at our annual Powwow.

BAAITS organizes social gatherings, Two Spirit Artist & Cultural Bearer’s workshops and TS Talking Circles throughout the year and marches in the annual San Francisco Pride Parade.

In addition to the social gatherings, BAAITS organizes and participates in panels, cultural and artistic performances, and offers classes and workshops leading up to our annual Powwow, such as bead working, regalia making, protocol, and cultural dances for American Indian and non-Two-Spirit allies. BAAITS also participates in national and international meetings with other Two-Spirit societies and Native American organizations.

Organization

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS)

Address

415 Valencia St

San Francisco

94103

County

San Francisco

Region

Bay Area – San Francisco

Phone

(702) 481-2536

Congressional District

California's 12th congressional district

State Assembly District

District 17

State Senate District

District 11

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