Burlesque troupe Virago Nation are on a mission to reclaim Indigenous sexuality

"You can expect to see amazing array of different styles, pushing the envelope of the art we call burlesque," RainbowGlitz tells CBC Arts. "We are all leaving not only our hearts but our own individual point of view on Indigenous sexuality. Get ready for the heart, power and super talent of this amazing group of Indigenous burlesque artists."

Queer Arts Festival Brings Too Spritied Indigenous Burlesque | VIRAGO NATION TO WICKED 2020

“It’s not just that we’re providing representation for Indigenous people, it’s that we’re further providing representation for Indigenous people who don’t identify with the colonial binary of sexual identity.” 

All-Indigenous Burlesque Show Moves Online and We're Here For It

“We want people to enjoy themselves,” says Plenty. “This isn’t a Ted Talk—we are so used to talking about trauma, which is very much a part of being Indigenous, but we also want to celebrate our resilience and our joy and our art.” 

The burlesque group reclaiming indigenous sexuality

Virago Nation: The art of burlesque is helping this group of indigenous performers to reclaim their sexual identities in Vancouver, Canada.

Sovereign sexuality

“Colonial images and stereotypes of Indigenous women cast us as highly sexualized objects—people to be used, people to be exploited, people to be consumed and dehumanized,” explains Virago Nation member Shane Sable in a phone interview.

VIRAGO NATION BARES THEIR IDENTITIES

Shane Sable is one part of the fearless Indigenous burlesque group Virago Nation, and she firmly gives her opinions surrounding colonization, feminism and sex work in a new interview in the June Discorder.

The artistic expression of Indigenous sexuality

The members of the all-Indigenous burlesque group, Virago Nation, say they’re on “a mission to reclaim Indigenous sexuality from the toxic effects of colonization.” They recently performed at Vancouver’s all Indigenous art and performance event, Talking Stick Festival and they are part of the upcoming Dancing Into the Light – a Women’s Weekend. They’re among a number of artists incorporating Indigenous touches to express sexuality in creative ways.

West-coast all-Indigenous burlesque group destroys stereotypes with their performances

Vancouver-based Virago Nation engages burlesque performance as a tool of reclamation. It’s through rematriating Indigenous sexuality and identity that community building, workshops, and performance are able to interrogate the racist, oppressive structures of colonization.

Virago Nation Heats Up Talking Stick Festival

For a festival that lauds taking ownership of Indigenous identity, Indigifemme was the perfect introduction to Talking Stick Festival.

Virago Nation: Indigenous female warriors fight to reclaim their sexuality through burlesque

Virago Nation is a group of female warriors who are challenging stereotypes about Indigenous women and sexuality one burlesque performance at a time.

Indigenous burlesque troupe upends stereotypes on stage

Sparkle Plenty met with CBC Calgary to talk all about our mission and headlining the Calgary International Burlesque Festival!

Gitxan two spirited dancer getting ready for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival

APTN speaks with Shane Sable about her upcoming appearance in the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

Warrior Women - Dancing Their Way To Reconciliation

Where strip tease meets activism. Shane Sable shares our quest to reclaim sexuality from the toxic effects of colonization.

All-Indigenous burlesque part of 16th annual Talking Stick Festival

"...It’s the first time that the diverse Indigenous performance and arts festival has featured the art of striptease -- but one of its founding members says it’s about much more than just entertainment...."

Theatre classic and burlesque at 2017 Talking Stick Festival

Ruthe Ordare speaks with the Vancouver Sun about Virago Nation's debut performance in the Talking Stick Festival.

NO WAVE FEMINIST

Shane Sable introduces Virago Nation to the world in her interview on Tea and Bannock.