The attires of politicians at key events are always carefully analysed to decode from them messages to allies, supporters and adversaries. In-depth analyses are carried out in particular when it comes to the style choices of female politicians and first ladies and quite often their allegiance to a designer or brand becomes a cause for criticism, scandal or ridicule. North Dakota Democrat Ruth Buffalo didn't have any problems in choosing the outfit for her swearing-in ceremony that took place earlier this week in Bismarck, the capital city of North Dakota.
Rather than turning to a trendy designer, Buffalo - the first Native American Democratic woman to be elected to the state legislature in North Dakota - wore a traditional Native American dress. She completed it with a fan made with eagle feathers that her clan brother gave her. The eagle feathers were a powerful symbol since in her culture they are gifted to people who have accomplished great achievements.
A member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Buffalo told The Huffington Post that she opted for the outfit because it was "part of my identity and who I am," and explained that, to avoid causing disruption, she also asked the House minority leader for permission to wear the garb in advance.
Her choice wasn't a protest, though, but it wasn't just a way to pay homage to her identity. Buffalo, who grew up in a reservation where her family still lives, defeated in the elections former state Rep. Randy Boehning, who had previously sponsored a voter ID law intended to suppress the Native vote in North Dakota. Yet she didn't run a campaign based on her identity, but looked instead at a wide variety of issues that could have benefited her community, from healthcare accessibility to property taxes and education funding. These were indeed the most common themes that came up during her door-to-door debates with voters.
The traditional dress turned therefore into a vehicle, a way of speaking to Native Americans and women in particular, but also to reach out to all voters, to highlight that they will be represented, regardless of who they are and where they come from.
Buffalo looked radiant in a picture taken by photographer Lea Black: in the image she is raising her fist and smiling at her family sitting in the balcony, triumph and joy are mixed with hope in a better future in her eyes.
Women and their style choice had powerful relevance this year: in February, during President Trump's first State of the Union address, the Democratic Women's Working Group and many members of the Congress, including House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi opted for black attire in support of the #MeToo movement and the anti-harassment initiative Time's Up. In the same occasion members of the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) wore brightly colored yellow, green, black and red kente cloth matched with all-black clothing. Their sartorial choice was actually a protest against Trump's racist statement in January in which he referred to Africa and Haiti as "sh*thole countries".
The 2018 midterms elections in the States brought some interesting surprises for women as well with significant wins including two female Native American candidates being chosen for Congress - Democrats Sharice Davids of Kansas and Deb Haaland of New Mexico.
So there's a message for each and everyone of us (and not just for politicians...) in Buffalo's style choice - never forget who you are and where you come from or, as Oscar Wilde said, "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken".
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