Q: What was your favorite part of the powwow?
When I walked through the doors to the arena at the civic center I was met with the smell of burning sage and there was a greeter offering prayers of acceptance and support. They let attendees know that were welcome in this space and that the space was for us. And I thought that was really special.
I also got to see quite a few familiar faces. Specifically, folks that I met at previous gatherings like the Montana Two Spirit Society’s annual gathering and the Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits Powwow in San Francisco.
Q: Did you go by yourself?
I honestly thought I would end up going alone or having to force my youngest brother and his girlfriend to abandon their plans and tag along with me. That wasn’t the case. It ended up being an outing for most of my family. My middle brother and his girlfriend were the only ones that couldn’t make it.
I have a lot of feelings about attending the powwow with my family and not a lot of words to describe those feelings. But one word that comes to mind is “affirmed.” I haven’t attended Two Spirit or queer spaces with family members before. I know most of them haven’t attended Two Spirit or queer events on their own, either. And this felt monumental in a way. Not just for me, but for all of us.
Growing up, my dad participated in sundance and other ceremonies. I don’t remember ever seeing him truly dance though. At one point during the powwow, the announcer invited people in the stands to come and dance in the circle with the other dancers for intertribal. I watched our entire crew turn and give my dad the “go out there and join ‘em” kind of look. Deep down we all knew he wouldn’t because of his limited mobility but egging him on in that space brought on laughter and smiles for all of us.
Q: Now that the powwow is over, and you’re back home, what are you left thinking about?
I’m thinking about how monumental this event is for Two Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ+ community members living in South Dakota or for folks that have lived there at one point in time.
I have an infinite amount of gratitude and appreciation for the organizers, dancers, drummers, and folks tabling with information to serve and meet the needs of Indigenous people in the community.
This event made me realize that South Dakota is truly starting to become a bit more socially progressive and inclusive. There have been several marches and protests that took place this year where members of the Two Spirit, transgender, and other LGBQ+ community were centered and the issues we face have been uplifted. I’ve heard about queer-inclusive events that I didn’t know about when I was living there. It makes me think, and ultimately hope, that South Dakota is changing for the better.
I have family members and friends back home that ask if I would ever move back to South Dakota. My answer is always an immediate “no.” I usually follow up with my answer by saying something along the lines of “because I couldn’t live as openly and as authentically as I have been able to live in Montana and Oregon.” But events like this one show meaningful change and progress are being made. Events like this one, with this specific community, make me feel like I could live here again at some point in my life.
I’m forever indebted to the Two Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ+ folks living in South Dakota. The ones that call it home and work so hard to make it a much more inclusive space for all to exist as authentic versions of ourselves.
I can’t wait to see how this powwow grows and evolves over the years. And I hope I have the opportunity to travel back for it year after year.
Photo: Taken by Jerico Cummings, at the Black Elk Peak in
the Black Hills.
