The space between queer and Indigenous identities is rarely celebrated or recognized by mainstream society. We’re putting a spotlight on queer Indigenous joy.
In the summer of 2021 the Paths (Re)Membered Project communed with queer Indigenous creative, Evan Bennally Atwood (Diné/Navajo) to manifest a story of collective queer Indigenous joy.
The series of photos that follow were taken across what is now known as Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oklahoma over the course of 15 days.
Equipped with a notebook and camera, Evan set out on a journey with Nate Lemuel (Diné/Navajo), capturing sweet and sacred moments of queer Indigeneity.
A Reminder that You Belong
We’re partnering with queer Indigenous artist Jordan Remington (Quileute) to share their Indigiqueer Joy photo series in physical gallery spaces in 2022. Stay tuned to the Paths (Re)Membered Instagram for updates. In the meantime, we’re excited to share below Evan and Nate’s photographs as a collection for the first time.
Colonialism created a lingering myth that says there is no place for queerness within Indigenous communities. In reality, this myth is a result of division, assimilation, and erasure. We know that queerness is–and always has been–essential to our nations and people. With arms open, this project is an embrace and a reminder that you belong. You will always have a place, you are important and valued. Queer Indigenous joy is diverse and powerful.
Despite centuries of violence, Native peoples are still here because of their resistance, resilience, and brilliance. Or as queer Indigenous poet Billy Ray Belcourt (Driftpile Cree) says, we remain because of “a desire to love at all costs.” White settler-colonizers brought violence and disruption to our land and all areas of Native life. Decades of U.S. legal policies and programs have followed, attempting to erase queer Indigenous ways of being, loving, caring, healing and leading.
Queer Indigenous people have existed, thrived and contributed to their lands and communities for thousands of years.
Indigiqueer Joy Is Good Medicine
Joy allows us to create experiences that transcend individual and collective hardship. When you make space for Indigiqueer joy, you’re engaging in a radical resistance and making a liberated Indigiqueer future.
Centering joy encourages healing, connection and recognition that is too often missing in the lives of queer and Indigenous people. It’s important to collectively recognize that health and wellness has many facets – physical, mental, spiritual and communal.
Healing, Health, and Wellness
Indigenous circles and methods of wellness are not complete without the recognition and celebration of queer Indigenous people.
Historically and now, queer Indigenous people have always been important and sacred in our communities, often finding ourselves in roles of helper, connector, artist, spiritual leader and more; having unique access to a diversity of traditional community roles and gender identities. Our medicine is critical to the futures of all our Peoples.
Joyfully existing as a queer Indigenous person is an act of survivance and reclamation of ancient ways of knowing who we are and how we love.
