Two-spirit and Indigiqueer community honoured in new Sunnyside mural

A brightly coloured mural is the latest addition to containR Park in Calgary's Sunnyside neighbourhood, and it honours the beauty of the local two-spirit and Indigiqueer community.

Kayla Bellerose, who goes by bb iskwew in the art world, painted 12 portraits on a shipping container in the park. Each depicts the likeness of locals who identify as two-spirit or Indigiqueer.

"It's been an amazing opportunity to just really highlight the beautiful people here," said Bellerose, who is Bush Cree and Métis.

Bellerose, who is part of the queer community, said the signature floral design in her work is from her great-grandmother who used to bead the pattern on moose hides, traditional vests and moccasins. But the florals are also symbolic of two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities.

"I was thinking about two-spirit identity and really being able to bloom into your full self and to express that and share that with the world."

Bellerose painted her new artwork, the Fifty Shades of Brown Mural Project, as part of an initiative called Where the Rivers Meet YYC, from Calgary's Centre for Sexuality. The program aims to increase visibility and understanding around the two-spirit and Indigiqueer community.

'An open heart all year-round'

Kenzie Beaupre is one of the 12 faces in Bellerose's mural. They saw their portrait for the first time on Sunday during the mural's unveiling event.

Beaupre, who identifies as two-spirit, said the portrait makes them feel seen, and having their face on a mural is something they never imagined would happen.

They also said Bellerose's mural will help increase people's understanding of two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities.

"It makes me so excited for my future children to be in a world where we can talk about being two-spirit and it's more well known," said Beaupre, who's of mixed Mi'kmaw, French and Irish ancestry. "I don't have to explain to every single person when I tell them I'm two-spirit what the heck that is."

Marshall Vielle, program co-ordinator of Where the Rivers Meet YYC, said awareness is increasing about two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities, but there needs to be more understanding even within the broader queer community.

"A huge part of it is being willing to listen with an open heart all year-round, inviting folks out to whatever event it is … ensuring that there is always someone there to set the space in a good way," said Vielle, who is also two-spirit.

Vielle said one big motivation behind the mural project was to take up space as a type of land acknowledgement that goes beyond words spoken at the beginning of an event. They also hope the mural becomes a gathering place for people to come together and learn more about two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities.

Reclaiming oppressed identities

Beaupre said something important to remember is that two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities are not new, and Indigenous communities are reclaiming these identities that have been oppressed throughout history.

"Gender, sexuality, these have always been things that we as Indigenous people have seen in multitudes, not just in a binary, and it's always been that way. Colonization, of course, has kind of taken that away, but we are bringing it back," they said.

Bellerose ultimately hopes the mural will make people ask questions, be open-minded and learn more about two-spirit and Indigiqueer identities.

"I think it will just have a really positive ripple effect."