PILBARA AND KIMBERLEY STORYTELLER WANTS TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR INDIGENOUS LBGTQ+ YOUTH.

Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Yawuru and Nyul Nyul storyteller Skye Lockyer said she wanted to give back to young Aboriginal women, especially LGBTQ+ kids in the community when she applied for Miss NAIDOC 2021.

Selected as one of the 9 out of 500 women this year, Lockyer will be taking part in a 9-week leadership program designed specifically for Indigenous women.

As a queer woman, Lockyer is passionate about being a role model to young Indigenous LGBTQ+ youth.

“Before I even came out I was already surrounded by so many first nations queer mob. So it was easy to come out to my friends. But it was a little bit harder for my family”.

Lockyer said that there is still homophobia in the Aboriginal community.

Finding her people helped her overcome the discrimination she experiences coming out as queer.

“I think finding your community and finding you people is what you need to do feel free to live the life you want and be happy”.

While she works in film and photography, over the last year Skye has been focusing on her studies and her art, and painting country. She paints the water and corals of her community.

“Coming from the saltwater mob has helped me heal”.

Lockyer is a photographer and has showcased her fashion at the Karijini experience this year in April 2021.