By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Maskwacis unveils first ever rainbow crosswalk

Jun 15, 2018 | 8:45 AM

For the first time, a rainbow crosswalk has been installed in the community of Maskwacis.

The crosswalk in front of the Samson Cree Nation administration building symbolizes that Maskwacis is an inclusive area, according to Chevi Rabbitt, a transgender woman from that community.

She notes this may be a first for First Nations communities in Canada.

“We are creating that safe space for all two-spirit peoples in our community. It is my hope that this will create ripples of change,” Rabbitt says. Two-spirit is commonly written as LGBTQ2S – the ‘2S’ meaning two-spirit.

“Often those who identify as two-spirit are oppressed and marginalized in First Nation communities and experience a high degree of harassment and discrimination while in the general public.”

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Rabbitt points out that the two-spirit identity is not a new idea, but rather an older one which was traditionally highly respected.

“When settlers first arrived in North America, two-spirit individuals were the first to be eradicated as they didn’t fit settler labels,” Rabbitt explains. “Two-spirit culture has been fighting for their rightful place for quite some time.”

Murray Browatzke, who’s in management at a nightclub in Edmonton, donated the funds for the paint.

June is also Pride Month in Alberta.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Maskwacis unveils first ever rainbow crosswalk

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