I went on a trip out west two summers ago. We hit major national parks and monuments. One week from Norman to Southern California, and one week back. Every time we stopped I bought a few postcards. Sorting through them I realized I had only bought portraits of Native American leaders, national park advertisements, and wildlife/landscape photos. I saw the thin white line between what was a conservation effort or assimilation effort by the government.

Struggling with gender identity, sexual orientation, and cultural identity has been a normal
aspect of my life. Being pulled in and out of native culture and feeling like my queerness was
unwelcome by my people, I separated myself for years. Now I explore my relationship with
my culture by decolonizing myself and others by sharing my identity openly and honestly.