Hi, fam, it's Amara.

You're listening to the Translash podcast, a show where we tell trans stories to save trans lives.

November is Native American History Month.

I know.

I can't believe it's November either.

That combined with Thanksgiving, particularly the myth involving the Wampanag Indians

and the Pilgrims means that it's that time of the year

when the lives of indigenous people come into focus.

Now, this is totally ridiculous

because Native history is central to our own, 365 days a year.

And it predates the creation of the United States by 20,000 years.

But there's an aspect of native culture which has traditionally been rendered even more obscure than that.

Given that this is the trans-lash podcast,

you've guessed it. We are referencing the lives of those who are native, trans, and two-spirit,

as well as the broader traditions and perspectives which underpin their place in the Native American

story. That's why today we're doing something that we don't normally do.

We are replaying an episode on this very topic from last year.

And honestly, personally, my most eye-opening.

You'll hear two powerful interviews, one with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Holland.

At the time of the interview, she was the vice chair of the LGBTQ caucus in the House of Representatives

and a champion of trans rights in Congress fueled by her grounding in Navajo Hopi culture.

It's because this is our land and we care deeply about it.

...