Deb Haaland and Peggy Flanagan made history on 3 November 2026, but their election-night outfits carried a message beyond celebration. Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state, while Flanagan became the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate. Both chose statement earrings created by Indigenous artists.
The accessories were more than finishing touches. Haaland wore titanium dragonfly earrings by metalsmith Pat Pruitt, while Flanagan chose dentalium shell earrings by Yurok artist Jessica Mendez.
Deb Haaland's Dragonfly Earrings
A member of Laguna Pueblo, Haaland wore Pruitt's 'DragonFly' design as she celebrated her victory in New Mexico. The earrings are made from anodised titanium, coloured blue, green and purple, with laser-detailed decoration. Their dragonfly imagery has been associated with flight, change and transformation, making the design an apt symbol for a night of political firsts.
Pruitt, whose heritage includes Laguna Pueblo and Chiricahua Apache, introduced the design in 2015. He initially worked with zirconium, attracted by its deep black finish, before moving to anodised titanium, which allows him to create the earrings in different colours.
The design also has a specific artistic history. Pruitt has said he was inspired by black dragonfly imagery used by fashion designer Pilar Agoyo, while the traditional double-cross motif reflects a teaching passed on by his mentor, Laguna Pueblo silversmith Greg Lewis.
Haaland had worn Pruitt's dragonfly earrings before, at her 2021 swearing-in as US interior secretary. She became the first Native American to lead a Cabinet department. Pruitt described seeing her wear his work on election night as an extraordinary honour, noting their shared connection to Laguna Pueblo.
Peggy Flanagan's Dentalium Shell Earrings
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, chose dentalium shell earrings by Jessica Mendez, a jewellery artist from the Yurok Tribe. The long, pale shells hung against her burgundy suit, creating a striking look with cultural history behind it.
Dentalium are tubular shells from marine molluscs. Indigenous communities across North America have used them in adornment for centuries, long before European colonisation. The shells travelled inland through trade networks and became valued by many Nations, including Plains and Ojibwe communities.
Their significance goes beyond appearance. Dentalium have been used in clothing, jewellery and ceremonial adornment. Today, suitable shells can be difficult to source, adding to their importance for artists working with traditional materials. Their use is not simply a trend: they connect contemporary design with histories and cultural practices that continue.
Fashion With a Cultural Message
Both women have used public appearances to support Indigenous designers. Flanagan has worn designs by Jamie Okuma and accessories from Native-owned labels, while Haaland has appeared in a ribbon skirt and jewellery by Native artists.
Their election-night choices challenge the idea that political dressing must follow a narrow formula. Rather than leaving cultural identity outside the public stage, they directed attention towards the artists behind their accessories.
That visibility matters. Indigenous designers are not simply supplying a look for a politician; they create work rooted in their communities, knowledge and creative traditions. When public figures identify the makers and explain the materials, a fashion moment can introduce wider audiences to artists they might otherwise never discover.
Haaland's dragonflies and Flanagan's dentalium shells told distinct stories. One evoked movement and transformation through Pruitt's design; the other carried the history of a treasured Indigenous material. Together, the earrings made a statement: these historic victories were also an opportunity to celebrate Native identity, artistry and lasting public presence.
