Celebrating Indigenous Joy and Two-Spirit Pride at the Indigiqueer Festival
The Indigiqueer Festival, held at Seattle's Waterfront Park in June, was a joyous celebration of Indigenous culture and Two-Spirit pride. This event brought together Indigenous communities from regions across the state, fostering connection, healing, and joy in a moment of pure representation. Through workshops, performances, and a powerful sense of belonging, the festival showcased the resilience and beauty of an often overlooked but powerful community in the Pacific Northwest.
A Space for Connection With Land and Sea
Raven Two Feathers, a founding member of the Indigenous LGBTQ+ drum group Gathered in This Place, described the festival as a space "where that inseparability of indigeneity and queerness can come together and thrive and be alive with one another." Two Feathers emphasized that being Indigenous and queer is inseparable, and has been part of the region’s land and the peoples across “since time immemorial."
The festival's location on the new Waterfront Park further enhanced the relationship between land, sea, and community. “It's amazing to have this event on the Waterfront because we're able to connect with the spirit of the water and the spirit of the people," Two Feathers said.
Bringing Indigenous Joy to the Forefront
Hailey Tayathy, a local drag artist and the program manager and curator of Indigenous programs for Friends of Waterfront Park, explained that the festival started out of a Portland area initiative before making its way up north. As manager and curator, her goal was to create a space where Indigenous people are represented as joyful, and not focusing on the negative aspects of the community’s health. This emphasis on joy was a deliberate and powerful counter-narrative, celebrating the strength and happiness within Indigenous communities.
Among the participants was Camilla Rayz Sumerz St. James, a drag queen and titleholder of Miss North Idaho Gemstone and Miss Gay Spokane. St. James highlighted the importance of community in queer and Indigenous spaces, noting how the festival brings together diverse Indigiqueer communities. “We're all different tribes, we're all just different all around so just having us all together [and] being able to talk and communicate with each other I think it's just so cool,” she said.
A Welcoming and Inclusive Space
President and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park Joy Shigaki underlined the park's commitment to being a welcoming space for all by ensuring different communities see themselves represented on the Waterfront. The Indigiqueer Festival, therefore, serves as a powerful signal that the Indigenous queer community belongs and is celebrated in this space.
The Indigiqueer Festival is a testament to the enduring spirit, rich culture, and unwavering joy of Indigenous and Two-Spirit communities. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of connection, belonging, and celebrating diverse identities within and beyond the Emerald City.
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