Ep. 57: Embracing Boldness: Ryan Breezy's Journey in Indigenous Fashion

In this episode of the June IndigiQueer series, host Dr. Candace welcomes the talented and iconic Ryan Breezy, a Diné and Southern San Juan Paiute model and makeup artist. Join them as they explore the vibrant world of Indigenous fashion, the importance of representation, and the journey of self-discovery through art and culture. Listeners will be inspired by Ryan's commitment to community and the way he embraces his identity with boldness. He emphasizes the significance of uplifting Indigenous voices and creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.The conversation also delves into the challenges Ryan has faced, including imposter syndrome, and how he has learned to embrace his uniqueness and share his story with others.Ryan shares his experiences in the fashion industry, the significance of community, and how he unapolegetically embraces his identity with boldness and authenticity. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates Indigenous voices and creativity!-Relentless QuestionsHow has being queer and Indigenous shaped the questions you ask in academia and in life that colonial institutions are often unwilling or unable to ask?What does it mean to reclaim queerness not as a modern import or identity category, but as a sacred, pre-colonial way of being and relating that many Indigenous nations already held in deep relationship with the land?Relentless ActionsSit with grief and pause when needed. Allow grief to be a generative space rather than rushing productivity. Check in relationally with yourself (through therapy, internal dialogue, or ceremony) so that the work you bring forward comes from depth instead of performance or avoidance.Pull the next thread. When engaging with patriarchy, feminism, or any colonial structure, keep asking the deeper question: Where did this come from? Move beyond surface-level analysis into the roots in Christian colonial frameworks, and actively reconnect with your own ancestral knowledge and responsibilities — whether you are Indigenous or a settler.Relentless ResourcesFollow Ryan Breezy to see his boldness in fashion and in life grow in real-time at @ryanbreezy2 on Instagram Follow Dr. Autumn Black Deer (@DrBlackDeer on Instagram and LinkedIn) — for sharp, anti-colonial, relational scholarship at the intersections of queerness, Indigenous sovereignty, abolition, and child welfare.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