From Roots to Wings. Why the Southwest Butterflies Retreat Matters More Than Ever

CSVANW Voice

At the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW), we believe in the strength, spirit, and sovereignty of our young people. We also believe that healing must be rooted in truth, visibility, and culturally grounded care. This is the heart of the Southwest Butterflies Retreat (SWBR), a two-day gathering that uplifts Native LGBTQ2S+ youth through education, empowerment, and connection.

HONORING OUR HISTORY

As our communities evolved and our language deepened, the retreat took on a new name, Southwest Butterflies Retreat, a name chosen by a trans relative, symbolizing transformation, emergence, and beauty.

Yet while the name changed, the purpose remained the same: to hold space for our LGBTQ2S+ youth aged 16–24 to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

A PLACE TO BE FULLY YOU

The SWBR centers its work on prevention, education, and healing. Through interactive workshops on topics like domestic violence, sexual assault, and policy advocacy, participants learn to name and navigate the systems that cause harm, and how to resist them with knowledge, culture, and community.

Creative sessions on art, makeup tutorials, and storytelling add color and joy to the retreat, offering space for self-expression and connection. Whether through shared meals, laughter, or late-night conversations, youth leave with more than resources they leave with renewed energy and a stronger sense of self.

WHY SWBR MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER

Across the country, and especially in tribal communities, LGBTQ2S+ youth face disproportionate rates of violence, homelessness, and mental health challenges. These realities are compounded by systemic erasure, colonization, and the lack of culturally responsive services.

The SWBR responds to this reality with something powerful: a space to belong. A space where our young relatives are not just tolerated but uplifted. Where their identities are not debated, but honored. Where the teachings of our ancestors meet the voices of today’s changemakers.

And in today’s climate of increased legislative and social attacks against LGBTQ2S+ communities, this kind of affirming space is not a luxury it’s a necessity.

BUILDING ON OUR MISSION

As an organization committed to eliminating violence against Native women and children, CSVANW knows that the safety of our LGBTQ2S+ youth is non-negotiable. We cannot end domestic or sexual violence without centering the experiences of those most impacted. That means creating room for our trans, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, and queer relatives to lead, heal, and thrive.

The Southwest Butterflies Retreat is one expression of this commitment. It reflects our core belief that healing happens in community, and that our young people are not just the future they are the present, and they are sacred.

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

To every participant who has ever attended the SWBR: you are the reason this space exists. You are the storytellers, protectors, and visionaries our ancestors prayed for. And to those yet to come we will continue making room for you. Because your existence is valid. Your voice matters. Your joy matters.

And at CSVANW, we continue to advocate to ensure you have the space to rise, transform, and fly, like the butterflies you are.

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CSVANW is a 501(c)(3) organization that is funded in part by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice and the New Mexico Department of Health. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Mexico Department of Health.