Tuktuuyaqtuuq's First Rainbow Days

WORDS BY ALLYSA FELIX; PHOTOS BY JANA KASPAROVA

When I was sailing through the Arctic in the summer on a Students on Ice expedition, I was deeply inspired by all of the amazing people on that ship. There are so many people to be inspired by on such a trip, but this particular moment in time I was inspired by two wonderful ladies looking to make a change.

I saw a presentation about explaining the alphabet soup that is LGBTQI2S+ and I thought, “Hey I want to do that back home.” I didn’t know how I was going to, but then it was announced there was an opportunity to apply for a grant to do stuff like this.

Change is especially hard in the Arctic because we are so set in our ways. Let’s talk about change for one minute. It’s often said that change is the only constant in life. Yet humans are evolutionarily predisposed to resist change because of the risk associated with it. Despite this resistance to change, it is more important than ever. Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

In today’s society, the pace of change is immensely faster, and it will only continue to accelerate. People fear change. Everyone does, but change is inevitable. If we are to grow as a species, it must happen and must happen now.

When I thought of this I didn’t know it would turn into something this grand. I was honestly doubtful when I was planning this. I was nervous of the feedback. I thought no one would come or support me. But if you think something is right, you must follow your heart of hearts.

I understand that nothing might change right away. In fact, change might only be felt 20 years from now. But if I didn’t do this, who would? Because there are LGBTQI2S+ people in the Arctic, in the reservations, in the tiny towns, and they must be heard.

On the first day of the event, there were some setbacks. A blizzard warning cancelled the morning of the events and members of the Gay Straight Alliance club I’m in couldn’t make it. Weather is something we cannot control and it turned out even better in the end. Luckily our guest speakers, Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen and Chelsea Thacker from the Rainbow Coalition in Yellowknife, were able to make it in.

That led to a wonderful afternoon filled with workshops, stories, cupcakes and, most of all, love. The lower grades decorated cupcakes and read a story about Elmer the Elephant, who taught it is okay to be different and unique. The older grades had the option to do a creative writing workshop with Thomas or an educational workshop with Chelsea.

The following day we worked with the foods class for the Europe trip our teacher is preparing for. They prepared a big lunch for the community, which was a hit. Following that there was a screening of the excellent movie Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things. Then just like that, after two quick days, months of preparation, it was over. As of right now, based on geography, it is the highest pride/educational event that has happened in the North.

Without my team of wonderful people standing behind me, I wouldn’t be able to do this at all. Without the people who create these grants for people who want to do positive things. Without Geoff Green, who created Students on Ice. Without the people who work hard for Students on Ice. Without Thomas and Chelsea, who were a big part of this. Of course without Jana Kasparova, who does so much for people and doesn’t get a lot of credit.

With that being said, I give my biggest thanks to the Students on Ice foundation. This ground-breaking foundation does amazing things for science, students, youth, the Arctic and more.

My hope for the future with this is that Rainbow Days gets continued yearly even after I venture off into the world.

Quyanainni.