Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+
Initiatives T-Shirt Design Contest
2023 Winner
Artist:
Travis Richard (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) Oglala Lakota College, Business Management Administration Major
Materials:
Colored pencils, #2 pencil, ruler, one 8.5 in X 11 in white copier paper.
Artist Statement:
I am more of a beader than I am a drawing artist. When I took Drawing 1 with Keith Brave Heart, I did not realize I had the talent to even draw. I’m thankful for Keith on bringing my talent out in me. I have siblings that create with pencils and paints. I never once could draw. My mindset was always beading.
My design meaning focused on the indigenous individuals that struggle with “who they are” or “coming out”. Many of our youth, along with adults, face obstacles and challenges on how they want to be accepted. Many of them struggle or deal with friends and family members that do not accept a person(s) being LGBTQ. Some individuals do have issues with family members that do not accept them for who they are. They get outed which can lead to them being kicked out of their homes and suicide.
I also thought of the violence, abuse, and missing and murdered LGBTQ indigenous loved ones when creating this drawing. No matter what mishaps we encounter, Thunkasila (Creator) does not judge and the sun shines upon us letting us know that as long as we all breath the same air and share the same sunlight and night skies, we are all equal.
Growing up I knew I was gay. I come from a family of military people who loved me for who I was. Everyone I had in my life loved me for who I am. I went to school dealing with my bullies, which made me strong. I became a big brother/sister to those that couldn’t defend themselves, in which I was speaking with my heart. I became their ray of sunshine. My heart is with everyone no matter who they are.
-Travis Richard
View Submissions
Anaysa Stark (they/Hegai) anaysa.stark@tocc.edu
My work explores the relationship between trauma & the healing process within. As a Two-Spirit & LGBTQ+ person, I have been put in this box of societal emotional discrepancies of who I am supposed to be as an artist & person. Within the Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ community, visibility is often a feeling of a double-edged sword: It can be a tool of self-empowerment, as well as a threat to one’s safety. The courage it takes and the radical act of expressing one’s culture and identity, despite rejection, political pushback, and the risk of violence, is a triumph of self-actualization in the face of the public eye. As emotion & trauma become reconfigured through artistic & diverse digital art techniques, the viewer is left with a comprehension of the resilience inside of my soul. Thank you for taking the time to view my artwork.
Tyreq Burbank (he/them) ty4burbank@gmail.com
I originally had the Navajo wedding basket design in mind when I first created this artwork. However, after additional time and consideration, I thought it wouldn’t fit the theme of having all other Native tribes, so I changed it up. I showed through the Two-Spirited representation by having the two feathers front and center, which tied with our current flag. The two silhouetted figures in the design represent the people who identify more than one being with their gender and sexuality. I wanted to keep the options open with someone who wanted to be themselves in any gender. The circle rainbow is supposed to be a circle of unity between people together with sexualities and gender. When I first started the design, there’s been an uproar of several people in the LGBT+ discounting Trans people out of the picture. Personally, I disagree with this statement and wish to bring the attention together by showing people this shouldn’t even be a movement to begin with. Many trials and errors went into creating this design as I’ve talked to family members and friends, getting their feedback by asking if they would wear it proudly. All of them said yes, even if they were straight or cisgender; they would want to continue to help support those in help at this time.
Tyler Thompson (he/him) tyler.thompson@tocc.edu
I wanted to tie the symbols that I feel most signify Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+. I didn’t put a face on the Native American figure to keep them gender neutral and the two feathers in the hair symbolize them being Two-Spirit. I also didn’t put a face to make the viewer be able to see themselves in this figure. They are wearing the pride flag around them to symbolize LGBTQ+ community and their sexuality. I included a beautiful blue sky to show the possible future, but I added the clouds to show that it isn’t always going to be clear skies ahead, but it is a bright future. If the background needs to be removed though I can always do that or it can be removed if the shirt needs that.
Tesla Belcourt (she/her) teslabelcourt@gmail.com
This piece is call “Love One Another” i based it off a group of friends who all love each other equally regardless of their gender or race. Thats whats important to share with others and communities. This piece means a lot to me for i have many friends and family members who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community, and i wanted to represent them in more of my art pieces. They are family no matter what they decide to choose to be. i love all of them the same.
Shealena Anton (she/her) shealena.antone@tocc.edu
For my design, I chose to create a silhouette to represent a two-spirit native and utilized the rainbow in the braid to represent the LGBTQ+ community. On the back of the shirt, I incorporated words that I feel encourage everyone to stay true to themselves and embrace who they are blessed to be.
SharRon Blackwolf s.blackwolf@yahoo.com
Image of a hand painted canvas that was transferred to a third party photo editor to make it more colorful. The concept is originally from the Navajo creation story where we learn as children that in order for balance to exist we must all work together. My grandfather told me about the creation story at a young age to help me understand the significance of having a bond with helping my family and community out. I think it also has a strong significant symbol of equality because without one great sprit then the other great sprit cannot exist.
Raquel Grimaldo sscrgrimaldo@thenicc.edu
I used oil paint and I drew a bird sucking from a flower which was painted with all the colors. From my personal experience I felt not alive and not living my true self until I acknowledged my true self. So the black bird represents me and the flower represents my truth. In another painting the bird would than become colorful and full of life. I believe it is important for us to live in our truth and once we do we will be fulfilled and happy.
Otta Moody (she/her) ottabellemoody@students.nwic.edu
The design color scheme is inspired by beadwork that is adorned within our Native American Communities. The rainbow encompasses the colors that represent those within our Two-Spirit community. We, as Two-Spirit people, are often double or thrice marginalized within an already marginalized population, and our voice has often been muted. We, as Indigenous Two-Spirit scholars, are embracing authenticity and restoring our rightful place within our communities through education. We are restoring sacred voices.
Kim Revoy (she/her) kpaulson@lco.edu
I’ve known since I was in high school that I was different than other people my age. All my friends where giddy towards the boys in our grade but I never felt those feelings and I never imagined liking women. Now, I’m currently working towards my master’s degree and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. I’ve been employed at LCOOU since July 2020 as the Director of Financial Aid. I’ve been in Financial Aid and Student Services for almost ten years, and it’s been such a whirlwind of experiences. I’ve been able to experience different people and different students and help them try to figure out their own educational journeys but also help navigate their own sexualities. I’ve been drawn towards counseling and human services to help people navigate difficulties in their lives. When I started working at LCOOU, I’ve been emersed in the tribal culture and welcomed into the community. I’m submitting this design to show everyone that it takes bravery, and being true and proud of who we are.
Kiana Zimiga (they/them) kzimiga26057@olc.edu
In this piece I wanted to explore what it means to be 2spirited in this day and age but also touch on many of our pasts. Not only are we of the land, we are of the water and the many animals that have taught us our ways of life. 2spirited people are as old as time itself, as long as there have been people, there have been us and we will always be here.
Kaylee Trepanier (she/her) ktrepanier@olc.edu
I went with a simple design with strong emphasis on the rainbow and #LOVEWINS! Support to the LGBTQ Community means everything, so getting to make something like this was awesome!
Jerome Antone (he/him) Jerome.antone@tocc.edu
For this design I wanted to use a symbol many tribes could relate to, like a dreamcatcher of many colors. To reflect the many different identities we, as queer Native people, represent. It means a lot to me that more tribes and relatives embrace their queer and two-spirit Native relatives. I wanted this design to be a reflection and celebration of queer Natives and two spirit Natives alike.
Delores Lafferty (she/her) dlafferty11890@olc.edu
Colonization, and heteropatriarchy force binary gender roles, nuclear family structures, and male-dominated hierarchies that are contrary to Indigenous customary laws, and social organization. LGBTQ2+ relatives have historically held positions of privilege, and esteem in Indigenous societies. Indigenous LGBTQ2+ are relatives who deserve representation, and dignity. This work is titled, “iyótaŋ” (Important, or valuable). This work was created using graphite, eraser, and colored pencil on 9”x12” drawing paper. The inspiration behind this creation involves the possibilities, or dreams of Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ relatives, and the interconnectedness that is shared by all of creation. The dream catcher represents the possibilities, or dreams that are of Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ relatives. In the dream catcher there is a medicine wheel representing diversity bringing unity, humanity, and the four directions. The eight tipi points, and the sixteen points above those represent the Oyate (Nation/people/stars/animals/creation). Four of the tipi points contrast with the four opposite tipi points symbolizing duality, above, and below. The brown on the tipi door entrances represent animal relatives as the two eagle feathers, and the six colors represent Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ relatives. The cotton ball holding the feathers together represents the spirit that keeps us all connected. The separation of green, and blue in the dream catcher is inspired by Earth, and sky as we are all made of Earth, and sky. The use of the Lakota word “Iyótaŋ” (Important, or valuable) represents Lakota language revitalization, and recognition of Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ relatives as they are relatives who have historically held positions of privilege, and esteem in Indigenous societies.