Actor Ellen Page attends two-spirit gathering in Batoche, Sask.
Vice TV's Gaycation documents two-spirit gathering last summer
From Juno and X-Men to now starring in Viceland's Gaycation, Ellen Page brought a film crew to Batoche, Sask., last summer for four-day international two-spirit gathering.
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 Beaucage who 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-Spirit Gathering 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 with younger generations.
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-Spirit Gatherings move around Canada and the United States. Beaucage describes two-spirit as "queer and indigenous" but says it has a whole range of meanings in different societies.
The gatherings started in the 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 gatherings — to give strength and to educate people, letting people know we are still here," Beaucage said.
Next year's gathering will be held in Texas.