Actor Ellen Page attends two-spirit gathering in Batoche, Sask. - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 11:24 AM | Calgary | -10.8°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Saskatoon

Actor Ellen Page attends two-spirit gathering in Batoche, Sask.

In her new documentary series called Gaycation, Ellen Page explores LGBTQ culture across the world. Last summer Page brought her film crew to Batoche for a two-spirit gathering.

Vice TV's Gaycation documents two-spirit gathering last summer

Ellen Page brought a film crew to Batoche, Sask., last summer for her new show Gaycation on Vice TV. (Peter Valkov/CBC)

From Juno and X-Men tonow starring in Viceland's Gaycation, Ellen Page brought a film crew to Batoche, Sask., last summer for four-day international two-spiritgathering.

Viceland's Gaycation is a documentary series following Page and her friend Ian Daniel as they set off on a personal journey exploring LGBTQ culture around the world.

In Batoche last August, Page met Marjorie Beaucagewho chaperoned Page through a pipe ceremony and a powwow. Beaucage spoke to CBC about meeting the Canadian film star.

"I think she's a very shy person, but I think they were all very open to what was going on," Beaucage said about the Viceland television crew.

2015 marked the 28th annual International Two-SpiritGathering and it all started with a phone call from Vice TV.

"We have made films about the gatherings on YouTube and we really had a long debate whether we should allow Vice or anyone to come," Beaucage said, adding the decision to open the event up to Vice was an effort to stay relevant withyounger generations.

"I said if we're not there then our young people won't see that we're here and that we have things to offer with the ceremony, so it was important to be part of the picture."
Batoche National Historic Site in Saskatchewan. (Parks Canada)

And Beaucage was very much part of the picture as cameras rolled on a very candid moment during a powwow.

"When we were dancing together in the powwow, I was just showing her a few steps and why we did this and I didn't even know it was being filmed," Beaucage said.

The annual International Two-SpiritGatheringsmove around Canada and the United States. Beaucagedescribes two-spirit as "queer andindigenous" but says it has a whole range of meanings in different societies.

The gatheringsstarted inthe 1990s as a support for gay men who were often unfairly placed at the centre of the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

"We've lived the homophobia here too and that's why we have these gatheringsto give strength and to educate people, letting people know we are still here," Beaucage said.

Next year's gathering will be held in Texas.