Indigenous Queer Urban Studies: (Re)Imagining Indigenous Urbanisation (Re)Built By/For Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Peoples

<p dir="ltr">Urban areas have become central hubs for many Indigenous peoples, with approximately 75 percent of Native American individuals in the United States residing off-reservation. However, the experiences of Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit individuals within this narrative of Indigenous diaspora are frequently overlooked, despite significant impacts from relocation, removal, and displacement. This research addresses two central questions:</p><p dir="ltr">1) How do Native American Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit peoples experience settler-colonial urbanisation? and</p><p dir="ltr">2) How does Native American Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit resilience reconceptualise urban space for Native American futures in Phoenix, Arizona?</p><p dir="ltr">To inform this research, I utilise Indigenous Queer Standpoint Theory (Day and Sullivan, 2019; Farrell, 2022) and the concept of ‘Coming in’ (A. Wilson, 2015) to guide this exploration. Tracing Native American histories reveals how settler colonialism has shaped ‘settler urbanisation.’ To understand the experiences of Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit individuals in urban spaces, I conducted one-on-one and focus group interviews with ten participants in S-ki:kigdam (Phoenix, Arizona). From these findings emerges the concept of ‘Indigenous Queer urban studies,’ offering a small but important contribution to the field to envision ‘Indigenous Queer Cities of Care and Resiliency.’ Through this framework, marginalised Indigenous voices are amplified, and pathways toward inclusive and supportive urban environments for future generations of Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit peoples are explored. This research aims to foster understanding and facilitate positive change in urban landscapes for Indigenous communities.</p>