Matthew keeps warm and waits while a sweat lodge is prepared for his birthday in Browning, Montana. 2008.
Matthew identifies as Two Spirit. Two Spirit is the contemporary pan-indian name of traditional gender recognition that identifies both the feminine spirit and the masculine spirit living in the same body, sort of a third gender and, today, many LGBTQ+ Native Americans identify as Two Spirit. Previous to the colonization of the Americas, in many tribal communities, Two Spirit people were highly respected visionaries and held important roles including chiefs, warriors, guides, historians, and ceremony leaders.
Travis Goldtooth, Mary Lou VanVoorhis, and Brandon Dine (left to right) wait in the front row for the start of a Two Spirit wedding ceremony performed by Matthew DeRoche during a Montana Two Spirit Society retreat in 2007. The Montana Two Spirit Society welcomes and celebrates all tribal nations.
Matthew preparing before a naming ceremony in Seattle, Washington. There is a small Blackfeet community in Seattle and in 2008 they asked Matthew to come and conduct a naming ceremony.
Matthew’s mother, Mary Louise DeRoche, was his primary caregiver. By the mid-2000s Matthew’s diabetes left him blind, an amputee and wheelchair dependent. He said his blindness brought him closer to the Great Spirit.
Matthew DeRoche performs a wedding ceremony for a Two Spirit couple at Seeley Lake, Montana. September 2007
John Hawk Co-Cké applies liner on Steven Barrios before a Two Spirit wedding ceremony during the Montana Two Spirit Society retreat in 2007.
Travis Goldtooth at the Two Spirit wedding at Seeley Lake, Montana. 2007
A wedding guest touches up before the wedding. 2007.
Community dancing at the Montana Two Spirit Society retreat and wedding ceremony at Seeley Lake, Montana. September 2007
Richard LaFortune and Travis Goldtooth compete in the potato dance at the Montana Two Spirit Society retreat and wedding ceremony at Seeley Lake, Montana. September 2007
(left to right) Sewella Mike, John Hawk-Co-Cké, and Joey Criddle pose in their regalia during the 2008 Montana Two Spirit Society annual two spirit gathering at Lake Seeley, Montana. The Montana Two Spirit Society welcomes and celebrates all Indigenous people and two spirit customs to their annual gathering and encourages participants to dress in their regalia for ceremony and community dances.
Matthew would travel to Seattle to conduct ceremonies for a small Blackfeet community there. 2008.
Nick Rink and Matthew preparing for a night lodge.
Nick Rink prepares for Matthews night lodge ceremony.
Matthew and Steven Barrios share a laugh at the Montana Two Spirit Society retreat. Matthew was known for his humor, he said that laughter was powerful medicine.
Matthew keeps warm while waiting for a sweat lodge to be prepared for his 36th birthday on the Blackfeet Nation, Browning, Montana. 2008.
Matthew passed away on March 6, 2009 from his ongoing health complications. He was 36 years old. He was buried on the Blackfeet Nation.
