A Kansas representative wore a traditional Navajo outfit to her swearing-in ceremony
Christina Haswood knew she wanted to add to the significance of her first swearing-in ceremony by wearing something that represented her Indigenous culture.
On Monday, the 26-year-old was sworn into the Kansas House of Representatives wearing a traditional Navajo outfit that included moccasins, a velveteen skirt, and a red blouse with silver embellishments that her mom and partner helped her make.
"By wearing pieces that were made by my family and people who loved me and helped me out through this weird journey of being a politician, it really felt like they were there with me even though they couldn't be," Haswood told Insider, adding that only one person was able to join her for the ceremony due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Haswood is one of the youngest members of the Kansas legislature, as well as the third Native American member elected in its history.
Read more: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is changing the dress code of politics
Every part of Haswood's outfit was a deliberate choice
She wore red to match her mentor and colleague, Rep. Dr. Ponka-We Victors, who also incorporated the color into her outfit. Haswood told TODAY that the color "symbolized the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples epidemic," and that she and Dr. Victors have introduced a bill providing for the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The ribbons on Haswood's skirt are also similar to the colors featured on the Navajo Nation's tribal flag.
Haswood paired her skirt and blouse with jewelry that was either gifted to her or passed down by her family. For the ceremony, she wore a necklace, a sash belt, a buckled belt that was given to her by her shimá sání (grandmother), earrings passed down to her by her great-grandmother, and a tsiiyéé (Navajo-style hair tie) that Haswood and her shimá sání made together.
"Wearing all the pieces and standing in an environment like the state House Chamber, I just think back to all the sacrifices my ancestors and the Indigenous people made for us to have the right to vote, the right to citizenship, and so much more," Haswood told Insider.
"When I was standing there in my traditional regalia, it was about not only providing myself with that strength, but also being a visual representation for everybody there that Indigenous people are here, and here to stay," she added.
Haswood gave her TikTok followers a closer look at how she got ready for the swearing-in ceremony, thanks to some help from her mom and grandmother.
"My mom made my outfit, so I wanted to make sure that what she envisioned for me was done right," she said. "I haven't really had time to reflect on it but saying it out loud right now is really such a powerful moment to see three generations of women on a TikTok."
@haswoodforks Representative Haswood ##greenscreenvideo ##ksleg
♬ Celebrate the Good Times - Mason
Haswood told Insider she plans to continue wearing traditional outfits like the one she wore for her swearing-in ceremony to meetings. For instance, she said she might mix a tiered skirt with a business casual top.
"I always want to bring that representation," she said. "I want to pay respects to our cultural attire and get everybody familiarized with it. I believe our cultural attire is beautiful."
"I would like for people who've seen me in this outfit to know that we belong in these spaces and to see themselves in me," Haswood added.
- Read more:
- One of the first Korean-American congresswomen wore a traditional Korean hanbok during her swearing-in ceremony
- 12 times celebrities used fashion to make a political statement
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is changing the dress code of politics
- Rep. Cori Bush is showing off her thrifted outfits to normalize secondhand fashion on Capitol Hill
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