Hey y’all! I posted a while back about starting a Two Spirit and LGBTQ Pride beadwork business. I received a lot of support with my first post, but I forgot to keep posting updates on my tumblr! I have a facebook page (queerkwe designs), I’ve been posting more work on my instagram (@queerkwe), and I have opened up a shop on etsy (queerkwe) to sell my beadwork until I have the resources to secure my own site. The purpose of this work is to create representation for Two Spirit and LGBTQ Indigenous folks in Native spaces. Identity is complicated for queer Native folks and it can often feel isolating as fuck. There is a lot of homophobia and transphobia in our communities as a result of colonization and assimilation efforts (boarding schools, compulsory Christianity, etc.). It’s important to remember that our cultures traditionally embraced two spirit folks and there are community members that still hold these values. This project is about reclaiming that space and reminding our communities of our traditional ways while creating a more inclusive and supportive environment. This work is important to me because my path to feeling secure in all of my identities was not an easy one. I had to deconstruct, and more importantly decolonize, a lot of ideas that I held about self, gender, sexuality, and community. I was fortunate that I was able to go away to college and find an amazing support system that allowed me space to grow and accept all parts of myself. This is not the case for so many queer Native folks out there who don’t have the opportunity or resources to find these queer friendly environments. Even those that do find these spaces, they can be very white and it can feel like you have to put aside your native identity. This beadwork is for all of those queer Native folks out there who have felt like they had to be any less than 100% their authentic self. The queer native bbs escaping to tumblr to find any resemblance of a community or support system. Those questioning if their communities, families, and ancestors would still love them if they new the truth. Those gender non-conforming natives who feel as though they need to change themselves when they go home to their Rez to fit into our (now) rigid ideas of what it means to be a native man or woman. I’m here to tell y’all that you are so beautiful and valid. I’m so sorry that some of our communities have lost their ways and now you don’t feel like you belong. Because the truth is, that you have always belonged. I know it and our ancestors know it. They are watching down on you, protecting you, and providing you with the strength you need to survive in this harsh, western world we now live in. Beadwork has been an amazing medicine for me in ways I never would have imagined. It’s allowed me to ground myself and begin to address the storm of trauma I was holding inside. This past year, I’ve been exploring the relationship between my mind, body, emotions, and spirit through both traditional practices and western therapy. Addressing my PTSD and allowing myself to validate the spiritual things that were happening within myself is a continuous struggle but beadwork has served as a healing tool in nearly all aspects of my life. It’s been really hard to keep a job while working through this trauma and that is why I am hoping to do beadwork full time. I could use any support y’all have to offer. Buy some earrings, send beading supplies, send money to help with food/ living costs/ supplies! I have linked my Venmo/paypal at the end of the post. Follow me on instagram, Facebook, and etsy! Share and like my posts! Thanks for your support! Becca Queerkwe Venmo: @rebecca-Lynn PayPal: paypal.me/reblynn CashApp: $reblynn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queerkwedesigns/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerkwe Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/queerkwe
