Donavan, a Diné Trans Woman storyteller living in Minnesota shares her journey towards womanhood. She will discuss Hózhó Dooleł, the two time immemorial words representing our selfless beauty as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirit Indigenous people. She will also walk through both the historical and contemporary vibrations of gender identity and cultural teachings that keep our relatives safe and revered.

This special event took place at Trans+ Conference at Harvard 2023, Cambridge, MA. This key speaker was supported by the Harvard University Native American Program.

Donavan Begay Postier (she/her) is an enrolled citizen of the Navajo Nation and a communications expert with a passion for connecting people to resources and organizations. She has over 10 years of experience in digital content creation, marketing, and higher and post-secondary education. She has led the Communications Department for SPEAK MPLS, a member-powered media center that amplifies the voices of Minneapolis residents, and the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, a non-profit health center that provides medical, mental health, and dental care to the local American Indian and Alaska Native communities. She has also served as Academic Success, Student Success, and Retention Specialist for both the University of Minnesota and Arizona State University.

Welcome to Walk In Trans Beauty Podcast, where I share my journey as a Diné Transgender Woman living in Minnesota. My name is Donavan, and I'm here to tell you my stories of finding my voice, facing bullying, leaving organized religion, suffering in silence, and launching into the world. I hope you enjoy listening to Season One of my podcast as much as I did making them and learning more about me and my journey. Thank you for your support and love. Stay tuned for Season Two where I will share more stories of Trans Beauty and resilience.

We have "glory days" or at least that's what Donavan tries to remember about leaving high school. In her final year of high school, Donavan shares about the impacts of testing taking and the embarrassing feelings of hitching a ride for the first time. Bitter sweet are the memories before heading off to college and how an advisor's well intended harsh truth sets a fire within to trail blaze ahead for future generations.

The pain lingers, as I'm screaming in silence and the world seems to continue on around me. In this episode, I share stories of sexual abuse, violence, and experiences of repeated accounts of molestation over the course of two years. I share how these events led to my fragile sense of self - shattered to pieces for years to come. We (I) all heal in our own way.

Hózhóogo naasháa doo

Shitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa doo

Shikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa doo

Shideigi hózhóogo naasháa doo

T’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa doo

Hózhó náhásdlíí’

Hózhó náhásdlíí’

Hózhó náhásdlíí’

Hózhó náhásdlíí’

Donavan discusses early identity development and her journey towards womanhood. She shares about the impacts of the Navajo traditional belief systems and Christianity - reflecting on the liberation as an indigenous woman.

Navigating the K12 education system inspires Donavan, a Navajo transwoman to find her inner voice and identity.

Growing up as Diné (Navajo Nation) in Be’ak’id baa’aoogeed (excavated for a pond — White Cone, Arizona) can be tough for someone that didn't get a manual on how to navigate life. In this second podcast episode, Donavan lays the foundation for listeners tuning in as she articulates early identity development on her journey toward womanhood. Donavan shares first memories about harsh realities in pre-school and relationships at home. How do you recall that moment when you chose what gender to conform to?

A two-minute clip showcasing five Two Spirit individuals reflecting on their experience at the first ever, Two Spirit Powwow in Minnesota. Visit newnativetheatre.org, to find a community meeting. Folks interested in steering and planning the annual social gathering in Minneapolis get together on Saturdays.

Finding one's voice can be difficult. Some would say it's even more so for someone who identifies as transgender and Native American.

Growing up as Diné (Navajo Nation) in Be’ak’id baa’aoogeed (excavated for a pond — White Cone, Arizona) can be tough for someone that didn't get a manual on how to navigate life. In this first podcast episode, Donavan lays the foundation for listeners tuning in as she articulates early identity development on her journey toward womanhood. Donavan shares first memories about harsh realities in pre-school and relationships at home. How do you recall that moment when you chose what gender to conform to?