Reflection

I first stumbled across Quannah Chasinghorse when watching this year’s Met Gala in my fashion class, a course I’d taken to learn more sewing skills to practice more sustainable fashion by mending and creating my own clothing. She had worn a pink dress with ruffles along with ornate jewelry. I was intrigued by her outfit choice, seeing as how it went completely against the theme of Karl Lagerfeld, a designer who hated pink and loved black and white palettes. Upon further research, I saw that she sourced her outfits and unique accessories from Indigenous creators, and that her mission as a self-proclaimed “protector” was to speak out for her people and her home. Her pink outfit was a rebellion against Lagerfeld, who engaged in problematic behavior against marginalized communities. As a member of both the Gwich’in and Lakota Sioux tribes in her native land of Alaska, she actively advocates for both climate activism and Indigenous rights. I admired her passion for both her people and the environment, which homes the animals and community important to her. She also stresses the significance of certain animal populations like the caribou, which Indigenous Alaskan tribes rely on. Her labeling herself as a “protector” drove my illustration, as I held her wielding her “weapon” - a megaphone, representing her status and platform as a model, where she speaks out for her home and identity that’s often forgotten by the media. I wanted to bring attention to Alaskan Natives, a group of people that aren’t paid as much attention to, but face some of the worst consequences of climate change and environmental injustice. I realized like myself, there are lots of other people who don’t hear their voices as often as they should be heard, and so I want the viewers of my work to recognize their efforts and go out to learn more about it on their own. I want non-Indigenous people to support her and the people, environment, and animals of Alaska, and I want to elevate Chasinghorse’s voice to a wider audience.