Help two-spirit indigenous youth attend conference
Donation protected
Any little bit will help!
My name is River Pictou. I am an Indigenous person from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. I am currently working on obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Chemistry and Biology and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology at Acadia University. I have been given the opportunity attend Trans Tipping Point (TTP) as an indigenous two spirit mentor in Victoria, BC, this coming February(January 31st-February 4th).
Trans Tipping Point is a conference for trans youth and mentors from across Canada to come together, pass along skills and produce a creative work exploring the experiences of trans youth across Canada. Last year the conference produced a book about trans experiences across Canada that is currently in the publishing process. This year TTP is working towards producing an art exhibition that will be displayed at the University of Victoria (Uvic).
As an indigenous youth attending conferences throughout Nova Scotia there have been many times where I have felt isolated, as there was rarely anyone I could relate to. I never was able to see myself represented, especially as a two-spirit youth. As I began to attend events for the LGBTQ community, I realized even still I did not see myself represented. Most of the leaders at the events, while being trans and nonbinary, were non indigenous. Having an intersectional identity has made it very difficult for me to feel welcomed in different spaces as I have never felt that I truly fit in.
I am looking forward to attending this conference as a mentor where I will be teaching a workshop on Aboriginal art, exploring how to take inspiration from other cultures without being culturally appropriative and the history of trans and two spirit people in indigenous cultures. As a nonbinary/ two spirit Mi’kmaq person this experience would benefit me by giving me a chance to expand my network to include people from across the country from different disciplines and give me a chance to learn from them.
Over all this experience would give me the chance to further develop my leadership and facilitation skills. The conference being held at UVic may allow me to develop connections that will lead graduate work after my studies after Acadia.
It is important for me to attend this conference, as there is little representation for trans and nonbinary indigenous youth. My attendance at this conference will hopefully be a way to not only allow trans and nonbinary indigenous youth to see themselves represented, but also lead the way for more indigenous trans and nonbinary mentors to step forward and fill critical roles.
cost per day total
flight $956
travel food $75/day $150
bus fare $15/per day $75
airport cab $100/day $200
total
$1,381
Food during the conference as well as a place to stay are being provided by the event.
To help offset the cost of this trip I have been saving money from working on campus, cutting costs by accessing the foodbank, and looking for funding both on and off campus.
Any amount to help me attend this conference would be greatly appreciated and I am open to meeting to discuss possible ways to reciprocate the generosity.
As a student it is only with assistance that I can attend conferences like this. If you are unable to help, could you possibly point me in the direction of someone who may be able to.
Thank you for taking this into consideration,
River Pictou
“Growing up in rural Nova Scotia and attending conferences and events I always would feel isolated. While there were so many people with me at these events i couldn't truly and fully relate to them. Being a two-spirit indigenous youth i rarely see myself represented anywhere, whether it be at events, conferences, daily life or in the media, it's very rare i see someone and go, wow they are like me. And that's a problem a lot of youth with intersection identities face, especially youth who may be POC or BIPOC and then trans or nonbinary, when we see either of those identities in the media in whatever form the media takes its rare that they overlap, i mean it's just rare to see those identities in general most of the time without them being the center of attention or a major plot point.I want to change the experience i had when i was younger, i want to make it so that two-spirit, trans and non-binary indigenous youth have someone they can see who represents them at events, who can be a mentor they can relate to, and I hope that me doing this will help other poc and bipoc trans and nonbinary people step forward and fill crucial roles of being mentors and leaders to our youth.”-River Pictou
My name is River Pictou. I am an Indigenous person from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. I am currently working on obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Chemistry and Biology and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology at Acadia University. I have been given the opportunity attend Trans Tipping Point (TTP) as an indigenous two spirit mentor in Victoria, BC, this coming February(January 31st-February 4th).
Trans Tipping Point is a conference for trans youth and mentors from across Canada to come together, pass along skills and produce a creative work exploring the experiences of trans youth across Canada. Last year the conference produced a book about trans experiences across Canada that is currently in the publishing process. This year TTP is working towards producing an art exhibition that will be displayed at the University of Victoria (Uvic).
As an indigenous youth attending conferences throughout Nova Scotia there have been many times where I have felt isolated, as there was rarely anyone I could relate to. I never was able to see myself represented, especially as a two-spirit youth. As I began to attend events for the LGBTQ community, I realized even still I did not see myself represented. Most of the leaders at the events, while being trans and nonbinary, were non indigenous. Having an intersectional identity has made it very difficult for me to feel welcomed in different spaces as I have never felt that I truly fit in.
I am looking forward to attending this conference as a mentor where I will be teaching a workshop on Aboriginal art, exploring how to take inspiration from other cultures without being culturally appropriative and the history of trans and two spirit people in indigenous cultures. As a nonbinary/ two spirit Mi’kmaq person this experience would benefit me by giving me a chance to expand my network to include people from across the country from different disciplines and give me a chance to learn from them.
Over all this experience would give me the chance to further develop my leadership and facilitation skills. The conference being held at UVic may allow me to develop connections that will lead graduate work after my studies after Acadia.
It is important for me to attend this conference, as there is little representation for trans and nonbinary indigenous youth. My attendance at this conference will hopefully be a way to not only allow trans and nonbinary indigenous youth to see themselves represented, but also lead the way for more indigenous trans and nonbinary mentors to step forward and fill critical roles.
cost per day total
flight $956
travel food $75/day $150
bus fare $15/per day $75
airport cab $100/day $200
total
$1,381
Food during the conference as well as a place to stay are being provided by the event.
To help offset the cost of this trip I have been saving money from working on campus, cutting costs by accessing the foodbank, and looking for funding both on and off campus.
Any amount to help me attend this conference would be greatly appreciated and I am open to meeting to discuss possible ways to reciprocate the generosity.
As a student it is only with assistance that I can attend conferences like this. If you are unable to help, could you possibly point me in the direction of someone who may be able to.
Thank you for taking this into consideration,
River Pictou
“Growing up in rural Nova Scotia and attending conferences and events I always would feel isolated. While there were so many people with me at these events i couldn't truly and fully relate to them. Being a two-spirit indigenous youth i rarely see myself represented anywhere, whether it be at events, conferences, daily life or in the media, it's very rare i see someone and go, wow they are like me. And that's a problem a lot of youth with intersection identities face, especially youth who may be POC or BIPOC and then trans or nonbinary, when we see either of those identities in the media in whatever form the media takes its rare that they overlap, i mean it's just rare to see those identities in general most of the time without them being the center of attention or a major plot point.I want to change the experience i had when i was younger, i want to make it so that two-spirit, trans and non-binary indigenous youth have someone they can see who represents them at events, who can be a mentor they can relate to, and I hope that me doing this will help other poc and bipoc trans and nonbinary people step forward and fill crucial roles of being mentors and leaders to our youth.”-River Pictou
Organizer
River Pictou
Organizer
Wolfville, NS
