Drag, Native American Activism, Performance Art Curation, Costume Design, Singing, Playwriting, Sculpture, House Ballroom Scene, Culture Sharing, Choreographic Direction, Performance Art, Painting, Wardrobing.

 

Professional Summary

With an emphasis on cultural sharing, J “Miko” Thomas is a passionate performer whether via lecture or acting in numerous local and national productions. They have performed award-winning theatre performances in the Fresh Fruit Festival out of New York. They are accustomed to the demanding stage sets and outside of performance also known for theatrical craft in wardrobe. They are known for artistic integrity. Founded the Brush Arbor Gurlz (the Indigenous Drag Troupe of San Francisco) in 2004, The House of Glitter in 2005 and co-founded the BAAITS Two-Spirit Powwow in 2012 and co-founded Weaving Spirits TwoSpirit Performance Festival in 2021.

 

Performance History The Wisdom of Long Nails, National Queer Indigenous Arts Festival (written by J Miko Thomas), Darthmouth University, November, 2020. Land Guide Acknowledgement: Welcome and Prayer (written and performed by J Miko Thomas) Youth in Motion, San Francisco, CA, September, 2020. Weaving Spirits Two-Spirit Art Festival, Co-Curator J Miko Thomas and Javier, San Francisco, March, 2020. The Woven Spirit, Brush Arbor Gurlz for Weaving Spirits (written and performed by J Miko Thomas), San Francisco, March, 2020. Out of Site: Soma, Ramaytush Ohlone/Joan/Doris Fish, Eye Zen Presents (written by KM Soehnlein), San Francisco, June, 2019. Bay Area Vogue Nights, (walked Face) Swagger Like Us, June 2019. Kings of the Lions Ball, (walked Face) Sissy Slayes 007, July 2018. Out of Site: North Beach, Mission Native/Jose Julio Sarria, Eye Zen Presents (written by Seth Eisen and James Metzger), San Francisco, June, 2018. Pintishkannovt Nantahavt Katihmi What Happened To Little Mouse, SF Queer Arts Festival (written by J Miko Thomas), African American Cultural Center, San Fransico, 2016. Shake the Feathers, (written, performed, and curated by J Miko Thomas) LGBT Community Center, San Francisco, 2013.

 

Honors & Awards

● The TwoSpirit Leadership Award, The International Court System San Diego, CA 2024

● Jose Honors Award, The Imperial Court of Ohio 2022

●The Susie Wong Diversity Award, The Imperial Court of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 2018.

● Heirapparent, Imperial Court System, San Francisco, 2017-2020.

● National Queer Arts Festival Grant, Queer Cultural Center, San Fransico, CA, 2016.

● Fresh Fruit Festival Award, Fresh Fruit Festival, New York, NY, 2015.

● Miss Jewel of the Galaxy, Panoche, Maui, HI, 2014

● Grand Duchess, Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco, 2009.

● Ms. Osage Hills, Two-Spirit Gathering, Tulsa, Ok, 2007.

● KQED Local Hero Award, San Francisco, CA, 2006.

● Ms. Trannyshack Star Search, San Francisco, CA 2005.

● Miss Gay Indian Nations 1987

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Presentations

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Black and Native Family in Conversation, Circo Zero, San Francisco, November, 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Artist Process, Dartmouth University, November 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Welcome and Prayer, Frameline, San Francisco, CA, September, 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, “Two-Spirit History,” Virtual International Two-Spirit Gathering, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, August, 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Closing Ceremony, International Indigenous AIDS Conference, July, 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Welcome and Prayer, San Francisco PRIDE, San Francisco, CA, June 2002-2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter and producer, Two-Spirit Cultural Competency Training, Comfort and Joy Foundation, San Francisco, February, 2020.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Medicine Ways Conference, University of California at Riverside, May 2017.

Thomas, J Miko, presenter, Gender Diversity, Native American Studies, California State University, Sonoma, November 2019.

Thomas, J Miko, panelist, Ballroom & The Community, Center for Integral Studies, San Francisco, February 2019.

Lakes, Landa, panelist, “House Ballroom Scene Community Panel,” Father Zander Lauren & Cal-PEP presents the World AIDS Day Ball & Community Panel, December 2018.

Special Skills

● Dance (improvisational, modern, powwow)

● Singing (Traditional Chickasaw sining, Indigenous hymns, and Southeastern drum songs)

● Make-Up

● Strong presentation skills ● Collaboration and teamwork

● Critical thinking

● Collaborative Decision making Languages Chickasaw & Choctaw. Spanish. German

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Television/Film

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 episode 9 (self) 2009

I've Been To Manhattan (girlfriend in flashbacks) 2012

Disney Launch Pad (self) 2021

The Roof (self) 2023

 

Professional Membership

Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits GLBT Historical Society

Two-Spirit Powwow Committee

West Coast Ballroom Scene Alliance

International Two-Spirit Council

International Imperial Court Council

Weaving Spirits

 

To learn more on Landa and their work: https://www.facebook.com/landa.lakes/ and https://www.instagram.com/landalakes