Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 2011
Friday, 16, 2018 Friday,March May 18, 2018
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Book a way trans to preserve and pass on Northern activist set to memoriesWinnipeg of growing Pride up in Churchill headline Parade
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY IAN GRAHAM
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham
For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears,courtesy deMeulles said Yuen if it Nickel Belt News photo of Alanna a book Beardy-Linklater, about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote grandchildren really ofuntil the plane Pride landed and June easier to live.moving to Winnipeg hadlast been viable she would Brielle a member of Nisichawayasihk Cree my Nation, is the grand marshal the Winnipeg Parade 3. Before fall, the 24-year old ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchlived in Thompson for over a decade. Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. before. Not only atalso a Pride she Canadian a community LGBTQI Manitoba northern director been Northhere - Life in Churchill for than She hasparade?” a reputation cats, I wasParliament. probably sitting tually shouldfound just leave,’ is quite ities “I with misstwo-spirit the shoreline, BY KYLE DARBYSON she speak during Stein- said. “So I’m just excited onLater that year the Nisi- and I’ve integrated,” she miss kids and largeI part it Gisele deMeulles said writ- did a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disrethe arock, missofthe KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET second-ever Pride for“Ime the larger Cree that Na- said. is because they don’t know “I’ve done a lot of polar ingThe wasn’t something she bach’s “I just sort of thought, hadand suchfor a varied his- chawayasihk Another thing spectful. If we were in the bears even though organizers behind last year, butthis she hisalso audience convey mes- spurred tion member last year identity and what and I’m alwaysWinnipeg thought she would you know what, tory and Ito would tell apeople her moved on wasfrom the growing same boatininthe another area their they’re very dangerous Pride have se- parade Thompthe two-spirit to Winnipeg to alone, with real- trying to miss do willthe help bridge do. tory, thisorganize stuff that’s in my sage hard times facing Churchill I thinkespecially we would scream I really Hudson storiesfrom and they would go, Thompson lected former Thompson helped first Pride about in aHudson politicalBay science finding mywhy roots andthey my that “In myBrielle youth BeardyI never son’s ‘That’s not true, is it?’racism I’d go, enrol about that so don’t Bay,”gap.” she says. “When I go head, very it’s going to beNorth gone community since the Rail- ly resident 55 celebration backshe in and and disat the University culture.” In the meantime, Beardyfelt good at she of if I don’t write it down,” ‘Yeahintolerance it’s true.’ They’d go, degree have the option to do that? back home, standing on the way suspended operations two-spirit Linklater to writing,” be the grand Manitoba, she I think Once the Winnipeg Pride Linklater primedoutand said. “But when I moved ‘You didn’t doso allI’m that,very did of said. “My kids are not go- crimination, north of Gillam where last spring. right now they’re Hudson Bayislooking on marshal of their 31st annual 2014. this do upto have found she parade up, Beardytoitbring her unique to Thompson to getthough it if I don’t it honoured you? You’ve got tothat be role.” really quickly “It used to out be athat really feeling wraps like they’re pawns ready the bay, just gives you an Pride Parade. to get into ingEven event represents Being elevated to actually this im- favoured a career in so- Linklater’s set to brand of brutal to theOn school social work, coming and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, thriving large community in a political2018 gameisn’t and that’s incredible sense. honesty You feel so Juneof 3, BeardyPrideI was also cial work over her original time soon.I the steps Manitoba at that point hadclose to write ways most wantedhigh-profile my mom to portant I did allrole thatfor before and it’s just dwindled down slow reallydown sad forany them because small and of youthe feel great.” Linklater willIhelp out her to date, parallel to ‘What?’” Beardy- goal of getting elected think Aside from of attending June 3 got for for days university realized, do. Myengagement mom’s an elder and runs 27,’ and they went to such a smallinto population the people Church- Legislature Now thaton she’s 10 worthand of Pride fes- Pride said various Pride.book under her belt, ‘Holy, I’m not bada at this, Beardy-Linklater she’s an artist, she’s gotshe so Linklater’s now,” deMeulles says. Looking own back,journey some of office. ill reallyspeaking want toengagethrive. one tivities by making speech to shy stories away from has Throughout is also on deMeulles “I’m really right?’ I certainlyLegislative developed isn’t manygoing wonderful be- self-discovery, those experienceswhich are things Though she’sthis not time, there ments, They’veshe built theirintent worlds sayslooking she mayfortry at the Manitoba mind about a fewnot twists and turns Beardy-Linklater has also funding forwe a new to being my true polita lot of skill university cause she her always tells her taken she might do again. any longer, her parents and getting there. How would feel ward to produce another. Building and in leading thou- speaking continue to affect thedid last year. to great lengths to organization thattowould al- ical said. “People and came of there with issues storiesthat at Parks Canada in in “I some pretty bizarre gone her sister and other family if someone came you and “I self,” have she another book in sands of out people through LGBTQ+ In like March connections travelyou to various to say a very strong skill in my the Churchill and community, I’ve always stuff fuel2017 haulsshe intoparthe make said,her ‘I’mtosorry, have to who me,”are sheexpecting says. “It’sme a darker members still are.with local low downtown Winnipeg. for its‘Please, Indigenous in the Daughters who share the her Indigenous communities be saidpersonwill be writing dence inin especially hounded her, just ticipated high Arctic at -35,” said Winnipeggers “My cousin owns leave your home community what story,needs moretoabout Whileand this confi gig would the Vote initiative Ot- passion forstore LGBTQ+ activto going their youth about happy, because who I my writing. write very put it on tape, I will write it of deMeulles. “It didn’t in dawn hardware there,” she and and talk we’re to displace al growth andthat’s struggles. timidate mostI people, the members. a timeyour and place thewas firsta ism two-spirit When I speak, I tell it clear and that’s it. It’s there. for“There’s you because story tawa on meand untilbecame after. That says.and Indigenous rights. her youown somewhere elseidentity. and all am. Maybe in the next five years 24-year old Indigenous be political andand … she’s what transgender “After a yearofof living “I know a crisis it is and I I’ll sayfocus truth on to Some people say it’s kind of to is going to be lost,’ very dangerousIndigenous thing to do. Because that, your loved there’s ones and your like it’s something transgender activist told timeittoand beI political a full seatof infuel the here and struggling I evenFirstisNations blunt orBelt direct. I don’t tend better never done thought, woman Being ontoatake plane deMeulles finds it hard to on history gone?’”commun- power.” doing.” Nickel News that she’s EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET