Film receives raves at festival

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Duane Ghastant' Aucoin says he is changing the way society regards two-spirited people, one person at a time.

But if his multimedia film debut, Kichx Anagaat Yatx'i: Children of the Rainbow, is any indication, things are going much better than he thinks.

Children of the Rainbow received four standing ovations and the much-coveted Audience Favourite Award when it screened at this year's Out on Screen Queer Film and Video Festival in Vancouver. Aucoin, from the Tlingit Nation in southern Yukon, said the film is his declaration to the world as a proud two-spirited person and his first step in teaching the world about First Nations culture through celebration.

At the invitation of Out on Screen, Aucoin assembled a team of talented First Nations cast and crew-including Sharon "Grandma Susie" Shorty, Dorothy Grant, Byron Chief-Moon and Juno-nominated Metis singer/songwriter Sandy Scofield-and he spent six months creating an emotional roller-coaster ride packed with laughter and tears.

Children of the Rainbow first takes a light-hearted approach and pokes fun at both gay and Aboriginal stereotypes with skits titled Queer As Chief, Sex and the Rez and Bobbi the Social Worker Slayer. These are spoofs of TV shows Queer As Folk, Sex and the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Then, through dances, edgy video clips and stunning photographs, Aucoin recounts the plight of two-spirited people before and after colonization.

Chief Leonard George, elected chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver and president of Healing Our Spirit, a non-profit society devoted to the care of Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS, opens the film with an introduction.

"First Nations people have traditionally regarded two-spirited people as visionaries who could see the future," said George, appearing with his two-spirited son, Isaac.

"They helped protect us in our small villages and nations. They watched over the orphans. We had a lot of respect for one another back in that time period," the chief added.

"That's the big difference from today."

Aucoin said, "Many First Nations queers are unaware of this part of our traditional culture that embraces two-spirited people as an integral part of our society, leaving us alone and ashamed of who we are."

Aucoin met his first boyfriend at the age of 15 in Whitehorse, Yukon.

"As young gay teenagers, we suffered a lot of verbal abuse," recalled Aucoin. "But the worst part was our own self-loathing, a result of the brain-washing effects of homophobia taught to us by Western society."

Aucoin, whose French Acadian father is a devout Catholic and whose mother went through residential school, admits to denying his own homosexual tendencies in his late teens, and even attempting suicide, in order to escape the shame and embarrassment.

Ironically, it's the fruit of the Western gay liberation movement that gave him most comfort when he moved to Vancouver in 2001, after trying in vain to "correct" himself by turning to Catholicism.

In the gay village, he found a welcoming community where he was free to be himself. But it was learning about his own culture's respect for two-spirited people that truly changed his life.

"I now feel an immense duty to help other two-spirited people gain self-respect and confidence by remembering and celebrating our own culture," said Aucoin. "More importantly, I want the rest of the world to learn from us and our respect for all creatures."

In addition to a theatre full of inspired audience, Aucoin's passion and determination are also rubbing off on everyone around him, according to his cast and crew.

Cast member Kelsey Pootlass from the Nuxalk Nation said the production helped him come out of the closet.

"Before I worked on the show, I didn't know anything about two-spirited culture," said Pootlass. "I had always known I was gay, but was too afraid to tell anyone.

"While working on the show, I came out to Duane and my cousin, who is also two-spirited. Theyhelped me be more comfortable with who I am, so I was able to come out to my family.

"More and more First Nations people are learning about two-spirited culture, and I've never felt more accepted amongst the Native society."

Gordon Loverin, director of photography of the film, said he now has a deeper understanding of the persecution of gay and lesbian people.

"I see a parallel in the struggle of First Nations people in general and the striving for recognition and equal rights the gay community has gone through," said Loverin.

"In a way, Aboriginal leaders can learn a lot from the gay community in how they've been successful in lobbying for equal rights."

Aucoin stressed the importance of Aboriginal Elders speaking out about two-spirited teachings.

"Elders are gatekeepers of our traditional culture," said Aucoin. "And many of them have kept quiet about two-spirited people because of their own [Western] religious upbringing.

"The more Elders like Chief George speak up, the more support there will be for our two-spirited children."

Shorty, who has known Aucoin since he was a youth, said the person most affected by the film is probably Aucoin himself.

"It's very pleasing to see him standing up for what he believes," said Shorty. "I recently saw a picture of him during his religious phase, and I couldn't even recognize him.

"He has created a show that brought a lot of different people together, that speaks to people of all persuasions. He's done a tremendous job of bridge-building, and of creating pride in two-spirited culture."

Shorty said the transformation of attitudes within her own circle of friends is proof that respect and compassion are the best weapons against hatred and anger. "One person at a time, we're eradicating homophobia in our community.

"When you see people who used to hate gays becoming best friends with them, you just know-there it is, it's working!"