Save this story Save Story Save this story Last night, the 2026 midterm election results delivered plenty of historic firsts . It was a particularly powerful night for Native American representation: Democrat Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected as Governor of New Mexico, while Peggy Flanagan—the current lieutenant governor of Minnesota—became the first Native woman to win the U.S. Senate seat in her state. (And there could even be a third victory for the Indigenous community today: at the time of publishing this story, Alaska’s Mary Peltola is currently leading the race for a Senate seat, too.)
As the race results were officially called yesterday evening, both Haaland and Flanagan emerged to celebrate their historic appointments in their respective states. And better yet, they chose intentional accessories to do so: Both politicians wore statement earrings made by Indigenous artists, a thoughtful move to uplift and spotlight the unique beauty found within their own communities. It was a fitting fashion choice, given that many Native artists utilize earrings as a cultural identifier—a stylish way to keep their traditional materials and motifs alive.
Haaland wearing Pat Pruitt’s dragonfly earrings.
Haaland—who is a Laguna Pueblo congresswoman and the former interior secretary under Joe Biden’s administration—made an appearance in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She wore a pair of titanium dragonfly earrings by Pat Pruitt, a Laguna and Chiricahua Apache artist based in the state. Along with spotlighting one of the Native community’s most well-known artists, her choice to wear dragonfly earrings was also symbolic: They represented taking flight, change, and transformation.
The dragonfly earrings are one of Pruitt’s signature pieces, though he also specializes in sleek cuffs and necklaces, too. “The first version of the dragonfly earrings debuted in 2015, heavily influenced by the work of fashion designer Pilar Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh/Cochiti/Kewa Pueblos) and my mentor, Greg Lewis (Laguna Pueblo),” says Pruitt of Haaland’s earrings. “The design brought together the traditional double-cross motif Greg taught me and the bold, black dragonfly imagery Pilar was incorporating into her work at the time. Titanium has since become my material of choice, allowing me to produce the earrings in a variety of colors.”
Flanagan wears dentalium shell earrings by Jessica Mendez.
Meanwhile, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Flanagan—who is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe—celebrated her win by speaking to the crowd at an election night watch party. The politician chose to wear a long, dangly pair of dentalium shell earrings by Yurok artist Jessica Mendez , paired with a burgundy suit. Similar to Haaland, Flanagan’s earrings were an intentional homage to celebrating Indigenous craft: Dentalium shells hold great meaning and importance within the Native community.
The long, tubular shells—derived from dentalium , a type of marine mollusk —resemble tusks due to their curved shape and milky color, and they are considered just as precious as diamonds (if not more), because they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. The use of dentalium in Indigenous culture, as a form of adornment, predates European colonization; Today, many contemporary Indigenous artists create jewelry using the shells, including Jamie Okuma’s signature tiered styles , or Tania Larsson’s striking necklaces .
Flanagan wears dentalium shell earrings by Jessica Mendez.
Tonight is not the only occasion that the politicians have used their platform to uplift Indigenous creatives. Throughout their campaigns, both Haaland and Flanagan have worn pieces by Native designers. Flanagan has worn printed Jamie Okuma suits and shapely Copper Canoe Woman earrings. (There is even an entire Instagram account dedicated to Flanagan’s fabulous earrings.) Haaland, meanwhile, has donned traditional ribbon skirts , including during her 2021 swearing-in ceremony as Secretary of the Interior.
Both Haaland and Flanagan’s choice to use fashion as a form of cultural pride last night, however, echoes how they plan to approach their historic appointments moving forward. With their respective platforms, both politicians pledged to fight for Indigenous rights and give a long-overdue voice to their community. “I believe that no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what challenges you’ve faced, every New Mexican deserves the chance to thrive,” Haaland said during her speech. Flanagan echoed the sentiment. “You fought for me,” she said, “and I’m going to fight for you.”
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Source: Lifestyle
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