The Seven-Fold Soul: Indigenous Medicine and the Philosophy of Multiple Genders

In the Western medical tradition, health is often viewed through the lens of biology: the heart, the lungs, and the chemistry of the brain. But in many Indigenous philosophies across the globe, medicine is not merely a collection of biological data; it is a state of balance between the physical world and the spirit realm. Central to this balance is an understanding of gender that far exceeds the binary boxes of male and female. For many societies, from the Cree of Turtle Island to the Chukchi of Siberia, the philosophy of medicine is anchored on a spectrum of seven genders, each playing a vital role in the health of the community.

Redefining Medicine

To understand this, we must first redefine 'medicine.' In Indigenous contexts, particularly among the Nehiyô or Cree people, medicine refers to anything that brings about alignment and healing—it is the 'gift' or the 'power' one brings to the circle of life. In 1990, a Cree Elder named Dr. Myra Laramee shared a vision that would change the course of modern Indigenous identity. She dreamt of seven spirits, orbs of light that shifted between masculine and feminine forms. This vision led to the adoption of the term 'Two-Spirit' to describe those who carry both a male and a female spirit. But more importantly, it revived the ancient understanding that gender diversity is a form of medicine in itself.

The Sacred Seven and the Medicine Wheel

In these traditions, the number seven is sacred, often mapping to the Seven Directions of the Medicine Wheel: North, South, East, West, the Sky above, the Earth below, and the Center within. While Western society traditionally recognizes two genders, these Indigenous philosophies often identify a more complex hierarchy. This list typically includes masculine men and feminine women, but then branches into Two-Spirit men, Two-Spirit women, and those who have undergone a 'spiritual transformation.' In the Chukchi culture of Siberia, for instance, anthropologists documented seven distinct gender statuses. These weren't just social labels; they were shamanic roles. A 'soft man' or a 'transformed woman' was believed to possess a 'dual perspective.' Because they lived between the worlds of men and women, they were seen as uniquely capable of mediating between the human world and the spirit world. This made them the ultimate healers.

"Those who occupy the 'third,' 'fourth,' or 'seventh' gender roles act as the bridge. They are the keepers of oral traditions, the names of children, and the ceremonies of the community."

Gender Diversity as a Healing Force

Why is gender diversity considered medicine? The philosophy suggests that a binary world is a divided world. When a society only recognizes two genders, there is a gap in the middle—a void where certain spiritual truths cannot be reached. Those who occupy the 'third,' 'fourth,' or 'seventh' gender roles act as the bridge. They are the keepers of oral traditions, the names of children, and the ceremonies of the community. In a medical sense, they provide a holistic view that a single-gendered person might miss. They are 'spirit-filled' individuals whose very existence balances the masculine and feminine energies of the tribe.

Restoring the Spirit in Modern Healthcare

Today, this philosophy is being used to decolonize modern healthcare. Physicians like Dr. James Makokis, a Two-Spirit Cree doctor, are integrating these ancestral teachings into clinical practice. They argue that when we ignore the 'seven genders,' we ignore the full spectrum of human spirit, leading to the high rates of mental health struggles and 'soul sickness' seen in marginalized communities. By reclaiming the seven-gender model, Indigenous societies aren't just fighting for identity; they are restoring a medical philosophy that says health is only possible when every spirit, regardless of where it falls on the spectrum, is honored as a gift. In this worldview, the 'extra' genders aren't deviations from the norm—they are the very medicine required to keep the world whole.