In a vibrant celebration of Pride Month and Indigenous culture, Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) has commissioned a striking new art piece from a local two spirit artist to be displayed on campus. The artwork, which highlights themes of identity, peace, and community, serves as a powerful symbol of inclusion and representation for LGBTQ2S+ and Native students alike.
"Among the Shooting Stars" by Danilynn Jiibay will be prominently showcased at BMCC in the student commons area, inviting students, faculty, and visitors to reflect on the importance of visibility and acceptance.
A Statement from the Artist
Utilizing an Anishinaabe and Ojibwe woodland art style, the work portrays the two-spirit
community in a positive and uplifting manner. It depicts a group of two-spirit individuals by a
campfire while gazing at the night sky with hills full of wigwams seen out in the distance as well
as northern lights and shooting stars present above.
The two-spirits depicted are as follows: Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Pansexual/Panromantic,
Transfeminine, Transmasculine, Intersex, Non-Binary, Asexual, Demisexual, and Genderfluid;
using their respected flag colors as palettes to represent each individual within the
2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The shooting stars represent the pride colors; it is also an homage to and remembrance of Cody
Bedell, or Baashkanang. The moon with the rabbit represents Jiibayaabooz, Intersex, and
persons of color. The northern lights represent the transgender community.
The goal of this work was to embrace the queer, trans, and two-spirit communities while fusing it
with indigenous aesthetics in a positive, uplifting, and unified manner; as stated earlier. My hope
is for all of us to find peace and harmony within one another given humanity’s diversity and
inclusion. Being Anishinaabe and Two-Spirit myself, I hope my contribution is beneficial to the
present and future of my indigenous peoples.
About Danilynn Jiibay
Danilynn Jiibay (She/They) is an Anishinaabe mixed media artist, graphic designer, and comics
creator residing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie
Tribe of Chippewa Indians and practices her culture's Anishinaabebimadiziwin. She is
Niniizhimin Anishinaabe (Two-Spirit) and Agokwe, and also identifies as greyasexual and
panromantic.
Coming from a family of artists and crafters, her unique visual style is rooted deep into her
culture within her respected skillsets and professional background, ranging from traditional to
the unconventional. She graduated at Lake Superior State University with a Bachelor of Arts in
2012 and has been in freelance ever since. Her art contributions have been seen throughout
indigenous country and comic anthologies over the years.
"Among the Shooting Stars" by Danilynn Jiibay
