Indigenous drag performers
Indigenous drag performers are those who may incorporate aspects of their Indigenous and/or tribal identity into their drag performances. In the United States and Canada such performers may also be considered Indigiqueer and/or two-spirit.
Overview
[edit]Some Indigenous drag performers see imbuing their creative work with Indigenous aesthetics, values, and themes as an act of resistance and resurgence.[1] Through costume, makeup, design, and even naming the Indigenous drag performers break away from colonial norms and resist erasure.[2] In this way, art and fashion can be seen as pathways to Indigenous reclamation and empowerment. According to researcher Treena Clark, the aesthetic expression that is present in drag performances can be seen as a strategy for cultural survival and resistance, which engages each individual artist in truth-telling, amplifies resilience, and promotes reconciliation.[3] This idea of Indigenous drag being an act of artistry can be seen through interactions such as the one Jayelene Tyme and Xana had on Canada's Drag Race.[3] During the interaction Xana, who was dealing with the struggles of feeling disconnected from her community and Indigenity expressed these emotions. Upon her expression, Tyme gifted her a Métis sash. Tyme stating, "I'm reminded how important it is for us to create spaces where people can feel safe, to share how they feel."[4]
Indigenous drag events
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In 2017, the Miss First Nation drag competition, open to performers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity, was established in Darwin, Australia. In 2023, the first Miss First Nation Supreme Queen was held in Sydney.[6]
Notable Indigenous drag performers
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List of notable Indigenous drag performers including their nationality, specific Indigenous identity, tribe, nation, or reserve, and notability.
- Anita Landback, a Canadian drag queen who was profiled on Canada's a Drag.[7][8]
- Beth, a Canadian Métis drag queen who competed on Canada's Drag Race season 2.[9]
- Carla Rossi, an American two-spirit drag performer who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.[10]
- Chelazon Leroux, a Canadian two-spirit drag queen from the Buffalo River Dene Nation who competed on Canada's Drag Race season 3.[1]
- Eddi Licious, a Canadian Métis two-spirit drag king who was profiled on Canada's a Drag.
- Ilona Verley, an American-Canadian Nlaka'pamux two-spirit drag queen who competed on Canada's Drag Race season 1.[11]
- Jaylene Tyme, a Canadian First Nations and Métis two-spirit drag queen who is registered with the Zagime Anishinabek Nation. She was profiled on Canada's a Drag and competed on Canada's Drag Race season 5.[12]
- Kaos, a Canadian Métis two-spirit drag performer who competed on Canada's Drag Race season 3.[13]
- Massey Whiteknife, also known as ICESIS Rain, a Canadian Cree two-spirit drag performer who is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
- Matraka, a Mexican Indigenous drag queen who competed on Drag Race Mexico season 1.
- Mirage, an American Native and Indigenous Mexican drag queen who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 16.
- Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, a Canadian Cree drag performer.[14]
- Sasha Colby, an American Hawaiian drag queen who won Miss Continental and RuPaul's Drag Race season 15.
- Shuga Cain, an American Apache drag queen who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 11.
- Stacy Layne Matthews, an American Lumbee drag queen who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 3.
- The Virgo Queen, a Canadian Afro-Indigenous drag queen who won Canada's Drag Race season 5.[15]
- Trixie Mattel, an American Ojibwe drag queen who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 7, won RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 3, and is known for her careers in music, television (Queen of the Universe, The Trixie & Katya Show, Trixie Motel), web series (I Like to Watch, UNHhhh), and business ventures (This is It!, Trixie Cosmetics, Trixie Motel).
- Venus, a Canadian Métis drag performer who won Canada's Drag Race season 4.
- VIZIN, an American drag performer and member of the Arikara tribe.
- Xana, a Canadian Metis two-spirit drag queen who competed on Canada's Drag Race season 5.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Beauline-Stuebing, Laura (May 13, 2023). "Meet Indigenous drag artists trying to 'offer hope' to LGBTQ and 2-spirit youth". CBC Radio. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ Martineau, Jarrett (2014). "Fugitive Indigeneity: Reclaiming the Terrain of Decolonial Struggle Through Indigenous Art". Decolonization. 3 (1): i–xii – via I-Portal Indigenous Studies Portal.
- ^ a b Clark, Treena (2025-01-14). "The Role of Fashion and Art in First Nations Healing, Decolonisation, and Cultural Practice". Genealogy. 9 (1): 5. doi:10.3390/genealogy9010005. ISSN 2313-5778.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (6 December 2024). "'Canada's Drag Race' Queens Jaylene Tyme and Xana's Emotional Two-Spirit Connection is a Story of Representation and Reclamation on TV; 'We Are Family'". glaad. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ nativemax (27 August 2020). "A World with OG Indigenous Drag Queen Landa Lakes". Native Max Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ Beazley, Jordyn; Sharp-Wiggins, Blake (2023-03-01). "Behind the scenes at the Miss First Nation drag competition – a photo essay". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ LandBack, Anita. "Anita LandBack Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ "Drag Queen Anita LandBack Is a 'love letter' to Mi'kmaw Culture". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News. November 30, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ^ Staff, N. O. W. (2021-10-16). "How Canada's Drag Race queen Beth foretold her elimination". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Werk, Jarrette (2023-07-06). "Getting to know Portland's premier, and Indigenous, drag clown". ICT News. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ Allaire, Christian (2020-08-31). "Indigenous Queen Ilona Verley On Bringing Two-Spirit Representation to Canada's Drag Race". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ Ryan, Denise. ""Driven to Show up: A Vancouver Drag Queen Determined to Bring Change"". msn. Archived from the original on April 26, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ Howse, Lito; Martin, Russ (2 August 2022). "'Canada's Drag Race' Season 3: 'After the Sashay' with Chelazon Leroux". Xtra Magazine. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
Kaos is Métis and was not very comfortable discussing that—from what I knew.
- ^ "Artist Debunks Native American Myths With The Help Of His Drag Alter-Ego". HuffPost. 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ Smith, Jenna (2025-01-15). "Indigenous queens bring culture and confidence to season 5 of 'Canada's Drag Race'". MBC Radio. Archived from the original on 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-04-08.