Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation celebrates Pride

Jun 16, 2018 | 5:29 PM

Pride flags flapped in an early summer breeze outside the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation’s band office as people milled about in the parking lot in anticipation of the day’s events.

June 15 marked the third time the community displayed their support for LGBTQ and two-spirit people. The Cree Nation’s Pride celebrations expanded from a parade in 2016 to an entire festival this year.

Councillor Kevin Seesequasis said he was excited to see the community, and guests from far and wide, once again come together and support each other.

“It’s always great to see people coming into our community and celebrating love, diversity and acceptance with us,” Seesequasis said.

The festival included numerous activities designed to celebrate Pride while providing outreach and educational opportunities to the community and surrounding area.

Seesequaisis said since the first Pride parade, he was happy to notice a growing understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ2 people within Beardy’s. There still is a desire and need in the community for more education and awareness about and for LGBTQ2 individuals, he said. While Seesequasis was proud his community could come together and celebrate the LGBTQ2 people, he noted how the need for such a day is strange.

“The idea that we have to have an event that promotes, or encourages individuals to accept one another, that’s kind of contrary to the idea of community,” Seesequasis said. “Why do we have to have this event that encourages people to love and respect one another? That’s kind of a strange concept.”

He said while Pride is a great celebration, at the end of the day, the end goal is getting to a point where everyone loves, accepts and respects one another.

Community members were supported by a number of organizations from across the province including Out Saskatoon, Trans Sask, the Diversity Network of Saskatchewan, as well as the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) from Stobart Community School.

Marik Gamble and fellow GSA member Grayson Rogers said it was great to be showing the groups pride for the first time in Beardy’s.

“Just knowing I come from a community with so much love and acceptance for everyone,” Rogers said. “[It felt really good], just knowing that my community is not afraid to celebrate diversity.”

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas