There is a long, rich history of queerness in First Nations culture. However, colonisation means that there is a complex relationship between Indigenous people and forms of gender and sexual diversity. Nevertheless, First Nations queer people are reclaiming stories and identities today, expressing the combined beauty of culture and queerness. 

Is it important to recognise this history of survival and learn about all the ways Indigenous queer people are challenging a colonialist telling of history today! 

Colonisation’s impact on First Nations’ gender and sexual diversity  

As explored in our article on colonisation, the process of colonisation imposed systems of power onto Indigenous communities across the world. This included creating and imposing systems of race and binary gender onto First Nations people. Strict and hierarchical systems of gender and sexuality were used as violent forms of oppression and regulation. 

Processes of child removal and cultural erasure lead to many elements of pre-settler queer Indigenous culture being forcibly suppressed. This was progressed through the imposition of missions and Christianity. Religious education institutionalised the process of banning Indigenous languages and cultural practices. This systematic violent oppression led to diversity and queerness being forcibly repressed. 

This process happened all over the world. This video displays how the process of colonisation attempted to eradicate two-spirit people in Canada. 

Troy-Anthony Baylis is a member of the Jawoynb Nation and an Adelaide-based artist. He is completing his PhD about the sexual and gender diversity of Australian Aboriginal peoples. He explains that many Indigenous queer people hid aspects of their culture and identity as a “survival mechanism”. Troy-Anthony explains that “colonisation, in a sense, silenced that kind of expression and behaviour.” Colonisation therefore suppressed knowledge surrounding Indigenous forms of queerness and diversity.

Moreover, the popular narrative of Australian history has been created by white settlers. This means that Indigenous experiences and perspectives have been purposefully erased. 

Todd Fernando, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Indigenous and member of the Wiradjuri nation, explains that Indigenous forms of queerness are absent from “dominant narratives in the histories of colonisation and postcolonial Australia, the fact remains that there is evidence of long-lasting sexual and gender diversity.”

Indigenous queer identities and culture

There are many forms of queer identity, and some are specific to First Nations people and culture. 

Sistergirls and Brotherboys are examples of Indigenous-specific identities. Some translate these identities directly to a Westernised understanding of trans women and trans men, whilst others such as Indigenous writer Madi Day explains that the term “can also be used to refer to people of varying genders and sexualities.” 

According to Sistergirl Crystal Love: “Sistergirl has no label, brotherboy has no label, it’s about who you are in your culture and in your spirit.” The term and identity therefore might differ from person to person. 

You can learn more about Sistergirls and Indigenous queer experiences in this documentary: Australia’s Indigenous Gay and Trans Communities.

The ABC News article, Tiwi Islands Sistagirls prepare to wow Sydney Mardi Gras, want to show Indigenous LGBTIQ culture they talk about their experience with getting ready for Mardi Gras as well as the hardships they have faced. Nicole Miller-Mungatopi states “We had to fight for our acceptance,”. Another article by ABC News shares the story of sistergirls and brotherboys, Kunghah: Sistergirls and brotherboys unite to strengthen spirits. 

Learn about the experience and perspectives of Brotherboys in this interview.  And you can learn more about queer Australian and First Nations’ history in the ABC documentary Queerstralia. 

Queerness can also be found in creatures and spirits, like those told in the Dreamtime stories, an example of this is the Mimi spirits. Mimi spirits are shy, lively creatures who have lived in the shady cracks and chasms of the rocks of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory since the beginning of time. 

Troy-Anthony explains that “Mimi spirits, depending on which community you’re talking about, [are] genderless.” He states in the SBS article, that these spirits are “not bound by the accruement of human definition.” 

Inspired by the beyond-human freedom of the Mimi spirits, Troy-Anthony writes that “contemporary Aboriginal artists have the opportunity to tip the ways in which Aboriginality is constructed on its head and ‘mythologise’ it with endless queer potential.” Meaning that queer First Nations people today can create new ways of being that connect to culture and defies the impact of colonial control. 

Reclaiming lost history   

In the face of historical and current-day oppression, Indigenous queer people are reclaiming diverse forms of identity and culture. 

Rowdie Walden is a Gamilaroi man who has spoken about learning more about Indigenous queer history has motivated him to make more queer history:

“If there’s nothing there, and there’s nothing holding us back, or there’s no reason to say that it did or didn’t exist, why not go forward now and make that modern queer Indigenous history or queer culture?”

Creating new history and understanding is a way for First Nations people to reclaim their history, identity, and experiences that have been stolen through the violent means of colonisation. 

Dylan Mooney, a Yuwi, Mualgal-Meriam and South Sea Islander artist explains how art can be used to express identity, history, and culture. He uses artefacts and archives from the Queensland Museum to inspire and inform his practice. Therefore, through art, Dylan is able to reclaim a history and parts of culture that have been lost to institutionalised colonialism and erasure.  

What it’s like to grow up as a queer First Nations person

The Buzzfeed article Here’s What It’s Like To Grow Up Gay And Indigenous In Australia gives us an insight into the experiences and perspectives of First Nations people who have experienced homophobia and racism in this country. 

Matthew Shields talks about his experience growing up gay and indigenous in the article. He describes how growing up in a small town in rural NSW, the combined forces of homophobia and racism were extremely overwhelming. 

Gregory Phillips, also interviewed, talks about the influence of Christianity and missions creating homophobia within Indigenous communities. He says “Homophobia and stigma within our community are the biggest problem and the myth that homosexuality is a white man’s thing, well actually, homosexuality is a part of every culture and homosexuality appeared here before colonisation”. 

These interviews display the impact of colonisation in the creation of homophobia, within Indigenous communities and the wider Australian population. This can have a profound impact on the mental health of queer Indigenous people today. 

This personal article by Peter Waples-Crowe displays the hardship of growing up and coming to terms with the intersection between queerness and indigeneity. It explores the hardship of AIDs activism, as Peter worked in public health outreach in the 80s and 90s. There is a long history of Indigenous queer activism in this country – even if it isn’t discussed within mainstream understanding of history. 

Queer First Nations activism

Organisations like Black Rainbow are so important to the Indigenous and queer community. Black Rainbow is a national volunteer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIA+SB charity. Their pursuit is that of positive health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lesbians, gay, bisexual transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, sistergirls and brotherboys.

You can read about young activist and artist Aretha Brown who is creating waves with her contemporary practice and political initiatives. 

This video of iconic drag artist Felicia Foxx speaks about her experience growing up and struggling with their sexuality and identity. They talk about how drag, community, and art helped her find strength! Follow him on insta here. 

Queer First Nations history is marked by colonial oppression and fierce resistance. Queer artists, activists, and community members challenge the history of colonial oppression every day by reclaiming suppressed histories of Indigenous queer identities.