Native American Heritage Month

While not officially recognized like some other month-long celebrations of heritage, NAHM is usually declared by the standing president at the end of October and begins on November 1st. While it's nice in theory to have these months of celebration and acknowledgment, it's better to also change the harmful behavior. It's like punching someone in the face and saying, "I recognize your struggle and it is valid," while continuing to beat them up.

I'm not going to go on ad nauseam about the plight of Indigenous Peoples. If you have specific questions, I will obviously do my best to answer and if I don't know I will ask someone who does and compensate them for their time, effort, and education. You should be doing that, too. 

What I am going to do is highlight amazing and talented indigenous artists, sex workers, and adult film entertainers. What is important to remember is that the lines of delineation between who is considered "Native American" or Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc. are all based on the purchase of land (that wasn't for sale, by people who did not own it) and the borders that were created from it. That's why the term indigenous is being used more widely now because it's more inclusive to those people with indigenous identity across North and South America and the Caribbean.

This is a group of indigenous performers from Canada called Virago Nation. Their website bio says: 

"We are a collective of Indigenous artists creating performance through burlesque, theatre, song and spoken word as well as workshops, and community networks rematriating Indigenous sexuality.

Founded in May 2016, Virago Nation is on a mission to reclaim Indigenous sexuality from the toxic effects of colonization. Through humour, seduction, pop culture and politics they will show that Indigenous women will not be confined to the colonial virgin-whore dichotomy but will design a new dynamic and multi-faceted sexual identity rooted in their own desires.

This is our reconciliation."

Check out their website and socials for more information:

https://www.viragonation.ca/

IG @viragonation

FB Virago Nation

Twitter @viragonationart