Ep. 21: Scott & Mama Wabano: Real Love, Real Rank, Real Power

This podcast episode is basically a love letter to indigenous resilience, told through the epic mother-child duo of Virginia and Scott Wabano. Scott's a queer, Two-Spirit fashion icon who went from being a tiny hoop dancer to slaying runways and challenging industry norms. His mom, Virginia, is the ultimate badass matriarch who's been his ride-or-die since day one.They dive deep into Scott's journey of self-discovery, coming out on a random highway (because why not?), and how his family's love eclipsed potential rejection. Virginia's been dropping truth bombs since the 80s, from residential school testimonies to supporting her son's fabulous life.The conversation is a middle finger to colonial expectations. Scott's using fashion as activism, Virginia's preserving cultural traditions, and together they're showing the world that indigenous folks are complex, powerful, and absolutely not going anywhere.Their BiosScott Wabano is an award-winning Fashion Stylist and designer, Creative Director and Content Creator, and co-host of the iconic Real Rank Podcast with his bestie, Kairyn Potts.  A 2Spirit Cree from the Mushkegowuk & Eeyou Istchee territories on the James Bay coast, Scott grew up with a strong admiration for traditional and mainstream fashion and a passion for bringing authentic Indigenous representation to the industry. Scott often incorporates traditional storytelling with modern and digital concepts within fashion to advocate for the lives of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ peoples. With features in Vogue, Forbes 30 Under 30 for Toronto,, ELLE, FASHION, The National Post & more, Scott has become an advocate for sustainable and Indigenous fashion while also advocating for the rights of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth on Turtle Island.Virginia Wabano is from the Moose Cree First Nation, and a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights within government, bringing both fierce determination and an open heart to every space she enters. She holds diplomas in Business Administration and Child and Families, along with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree. Known for speaking her truth with clarity and compassion and mixing in some Native humor, Virginia combines deep wisdom with an unshakable commitment to her People in various capacities from government to school.. She recently appeared on Family Feud Canada alongside her children—including Scott—where her hilarious sense of humor and radiant warmth shone through, capturing the hearts of viewers across the country.IG & TikTok: @scottwabano -Relentless Reflection:How have colonial systems of gender and sexuality silenced your own authentic self, and what ancestral wisdom can you reclaim to heal those wounds?Where in your life are you choosing comfort over transformation, and what radical vulnerability would it take to dismantle those oppressive structures?Relentless Action:Actively deplatform and withdraw support from institutions, media, and individuals who continue to marginalize indigenous voices, replacing them with indigenous-led narratives and spaces.Commit to a year of deep, personal unlearning. This means engaging in Indigenous-authored media, paying for Indigenous knowledge without extractive expectations, and consistently challenging your internalized colonial conditioning in tangible, uncomfortable ways.Relentless Resources:Two Spirit & IndigiQueer Resource Toolkits Send Us a Text with Your Thoughts or Questions!Join the RIW Patreon Community RIW WebsiteMusic Produced by Award-Winning Anishnaabe DJ Boogey the Beat