The morning after Election Day, I woke up with a feeling I am still trying to put into words: pride, excitement and an overwhelming sense of gratitude and identity.

Across the country, Indigenous women made history. On the Navajo Nation, Crystalyne Curley was elected as the first woman president in the Nation’s history. In Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan made history as the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. In New Mexico, Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor. And on the Seneca Nation, Tina Abrams was elected its first woman president. These victories represent more than political milestones. They represent generations of Indigenous women whose leadership, strength and voices have always mattered, even when the world failed to recognize them.

As a Diné (Navajo) woman, I grew up surrounded by strong Indigenous women. My mother, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, mentors and teachers have shaped the person I am today. They taught me resilience, compassion, responsibility and the importance of knowing who I am and where I come from. I have seen women lead families, raise communities, preserve traditions, teach our languages and carry the knowledge of generations.

In our Navajo way of life, women hold a deeply honored place. Our traditions are rooted in matrilineal values, where our clans come through our mothers and women are central to our families and communities. There is something powerful about seeing that cultural understanding reflected in the highest levels of leadership. Matriarchy is not something to be feared or dismissed. It is something to celebrate. It reminds us that leadership does not have to look one particular way. It can look like our mothers, our grandmothers, our aunties and the young women who are just beginning to imagine what is possible for themselves.

Seeing these election results reaffirmed something I have known my entire life: Indigenous women are powerful. I am honored to live in a time when I get to witness these moments with my own eyes. I think about the little girls watching these women make history. I think about what it means for them to grow up knowing that the highest leadership positions are not out of reach.

The day after the election, I proudly wore my traditional Navajo hairstyle, my tsiiyeel. It may seem like a small gesture to some, but to me, it meant something much bigger. It was a reminder of who I am, where I come from and the generations of women who came before me. I wear it with pride.

There was a time when our ancestors were killed, forced from their homes and stripped of their languages, traditions and cultural identities through policies of assimilation. Our people were told to abandon the very things that made us who we are. Yet here we are. Our cultures remain. Our women are leading. Our voices are being heard. We should never take that for granted.

This is our time to be visible. To celebrate our languages, our hairstyles, our clothing, our traditions and our identities. To take up space in places where our ancestors were never welcomed. To encourage our daughters, nieces and sisters to pursue leadership without feeling they must leave their identity behind to do so.

To every Indigenous woman who has led before us, every woman leading today and every young girl who will lead tomorrow: I see you, and I celebrate you.

I am proud to be a Diné woman. I will carry my identity proudly, remembering those who came before me and honoring the path they made possible.

Let this be a reminder to all of us: Wherever you come from, wear your identity proudly. Your culture is not something to hide. It is something worth celebrating.

Mickaela Allison is a Dine (Navajo) content creator, community advocate and youth mentor based in Salt Lake City. Through digital storytelling and community engagement, she is passionate about uplifting Indigenous voices, celebrating Native Identity and inspiring the next generation.

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