Anthony Johnson and James Makokis hoped being the first Indigenous, two-spirit couple to compete on The Amazing Race Canada would give them a national platform to highlight issues close to their hearts.
Over weeks of intense challenges that saw them criss-cross the country, the pair donned outfits meant to call attention to specific topics: handmade red skirts and a bandana for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, blue shirts emblazoned with B次元官网网址淲ater Is LifeB次元官网网址� to show the cultural and ceremonial importance of water.
Now that theyB次元官网网址檝e been crowned the winners, the married couple B次元官网网址� who identify as two-spirit, a term used by some Indigenous peoples to describe their gender, sexual and spiritual identity B次元官网网址� said they want to use their fame to continue fundraising for a cultural healing centre in AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 Kehewin Cree Nation.
But first, they want to celebrate their groundbreaking victory, get some sleep and maybe go on vacation, they said Tuesday in an interview just hours before the showB次元官网网址檚 finale was set to air.
B次元官网网址淲e want a week on the beach somewhere hot because we had no summer. We need a tan,B次元官网网址� Makokis said with a laugh.
The showB次元官网网址檚 seventh season, which hit the airwaves in July but was filmed earlier this year, started in Toronto and ended in central OntarioB次元官网网址檚 Muskoka region. Each episode saw the teams face off in challenges, such as a mock press conference or a game of sledge hockey.
Makokis, a family physician originally from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, and Johnson, a project consultant born in ArizonaB次元官网网址檚 Navajo Nation, said it was important for them to use the spotlight to raise awareness.
B次元官网网址淩epresenting missing and murdered Indigenous women was important because it happens, it happens and people donB次元官网网址檛 talk about it,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.
Many Indigenous communities were matriarchal before colonization and the couple felt it was important to show support for the women leaders in their community, Makokis added.
They also wanted to show two-spirit and transgender youth B次元官网网址渢hat itB次元官网网址檚 OK to be different,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 two guys wearing a dress, they want to express their identity differently than the norm, then why does that matter? How is it hurting somebody else?B次元官网网址� Makokis said.
B次元官网网址淏ecause I have a large transgender population in my medical practice and I see the results of social isolation, it sends a strong message when their doctor is saying thatB次元官网网址nd we wanted to do that, we thought it was really important.B次元官网网址�
Some moments were particularly emotional for the pair, including a challenge that Makokis said stirred up intergenerational trauma and led him to tears.
While Makokis did not go to a residential school, many others in his family did, including his father, who was the first to later attend an integrated school with French-speaking children, he said. Every day, his father faced slurs and violence, and Makokis said a challenge in which he was forced to speak French brought up those family memories.
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Other moments stood out for more pleasant reasons. While racing to get on a plane in Kamloops, the two B次元官网网址� who were wearing their red skirts B次元官网网址� made eye contact with an Indigenous baggage handler, who broke into a huge smile, Johnson recalled.
The win comes with a $250,000 prize, a trip for two around the world, and two new vehicles.
Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
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