Drag has got to be one of the most influential forms of queer art in the world. Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race have exploded into the mainstream, opening audiences' minds to the queer art world.
In this post, I want to bring attention to 3 Indigenous Drag Queens and their impact on both the Drag world and the Indigenous world.
Lady Shug is a Diné (Navajo), Nonbinary (She/Her, They/Them), Drag Queen from the Navajo Nation. She works as both a drag queen and activist, and has even been featured on an episode of the HBO show We’re Here. Lady Shug has always centered her Native ancestry in her art and works to support a multitude of Native communities.
Her #ShugChallenge for Mutual Aid aims to support small Native communities and border towns around the Arizona and New Mexico area.
You can support Lady Shug and her Drag here
Landa Lakes ( Miko Thomas out of Drag) is a Chickasaw Drag Queen based in San Francisco. She is an activist for Indigenous and Two Spirit communities. She is a board member of the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS), a volunteer-based organization that aims to support and provide activities culturally relevant to LGBTQIA+ Native Americans. Please donate to the BAAITS here.
Lakes is also a part of an Indigenous Drag Troupe called the Brush Arbor Gurlz. The Gurlz raise awareness and money for Native and 2SLGBT+ communities.
Lady Shug and Landa Lakes also collaborated to create Indigenous Drag Story Hour, which explores Native culture, language, and, of course, stories, with children. Donate here!
Hailey Tayathy is a member of the Quileute Nation and serves as Seattle's premier Native Drag Queen. Tayathy uses their drag to spread awareness about, and bring healing to, Indigenous communities and Indigiqueers alike.
Tayathy’s art takes many forms, and you can see her digital prints, fiber and fashion art, and public art here! Tayathy’s art involves a mixture of traditional Quileute-style artwork with 2SLGBTQIA+ themes, bridging the two communities together in a positive, loving, beautiful way.
Here is an example of her public art, specifically a NW Film Forum Window Mural. The mural is bordered by two eagles that she states represent the strength of the LGBTQ+ community and Indigenous communities alike. The couple in the middle is not given any gender marker, so viewers can define the couple in a way that represents them.
She was also involved in designing a cover for the “Celebrating Our Magic Toolkit” in 2024, which serves as a resource for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their support systems.
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