Navajo Nation Pride, founded in 2017, has evolved into a major Indigenous LGBTQ+ event in the U.S. Board member Sister Navi Ho exemplifies this growth through his journey as a Two Spirit drag artist. His experiences culminated in a transformative moment when he won the Miss Montana Two Spirit crown in 2023, allowing him to embrace his identity publicly. Navi Ho highlights the influence of his grandmother and the impact of historical colonization on Navajo culture, emphasizing the importance of Two Spirit identities. The event strives to reclaim and honor these identities in modern Navajo society.
As a child, Navi Ho never dreamed that one day he'd proudly stand before the Navajo community in Window Rock, Arizona, and be celebrated as a Two Spirit person.
Navi Ho explains that he grew up during a time when centuries of colonization had greatly affected and disrupted much of the Navajo Nation's culture.
I give a lot of credit to my grandma, one of the teachings that I learned about the Nádleehi was that they were very close to their elders.
Pre-colonization, these identities were widely accepted in native culture and even celebrated. Two Spirit people were often considered sacred members of the tribe.
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