Queen of the Oil Patch celebrates two-spirit Fort McMurray entrepreneur

Massey Whiteknife'ssassy, entrepreneurial and voluptuous style is coming to the small screen in a docu-seriestitled Queen of the Oil Patch.

The documentary/reality TV show premieres Tuesday night on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Itplaces the spotlight on Whiteknife, a two-spirited First Nations entrepreneur whotransforms into IceisRain, all against the landscape of Fort McMurray'soilsandsregion.

• 'She's a stronger me': two-spirited Fort McMurray businessman to be profiled in documentary
• First Nations oilsands tycoon defies odds as Karaoke queen
• Businessman Massey Whiteknife transforms into diva Iceis Rain

The trailer for the eight-episode season depicts Massey day-to-day, meeting contractors and roughnecks.

Then itquickly cuts toIceisRain, wearing cherry-red lipstick and sashayinginpeacockheaddresses, fur coats and bejewelledstilettos.

"I don't identify myself astrans[gender],"Whiteknifesaid in aCBCinterview. "I identify myself as two-spirited and that is the journey throughout the show. I always tell people you don't need to put yourself in a label that society says.

"And I am not a big fan of having all these labels because then we are going to have this alphabet right across the board."

First Nations people use the term two-spirit to describe someone who has both masculine and feminine identities.

The show follows Whiteknifeas henavigates life after the Fort McMurraywildifire,operating a struggling business in a tanking economy.

Somemoments depictWhiteknifeas an upholder of Indigenous culture who keeps traditional dance and spirituality alivein the21stcentury.

He's also a champion forLGBTQ2youth who are bullied, and urges them to be themselves and not live for others.

"I dress up because I am a woman. And why can't I?" Whiteknifesaid."I hope what people take away from the show is the real me."

Drama and a search for self

In the show,Whiteknifeowns and operates a program called Get Ready; which helpsFirst Nations people find full-time employment in Canada.

But the trailer also promises glamour,layers of makeup and "porn star"Botoxlips as Whiteknifedescribes in hisbrash style. There's also late-night drama and other twists, including a record album and a vehicle accident.

• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS: No end in sight for Fort McMurray's looming gravel crisis
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Fort McMurray councillor at centre of conflict-of-interest investigation
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:All Fort McMurray wildfire insurance claims given a 'blanket' extension, Ceci says

Whiteknifealso ponders identity questions about whether he will transition from male to female.

"The large part of the question is, can I continue to sustain my lifestyle as Massey andIceisRain?"Whiteknifesaid.

"Or am I going to get rid of one or the other. So, will I transition full-time?

"You will just have to watch to find out."

Queen of the Oil Patch airs Tuesday nights on APTNat 10.30pm.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca