Play tackles subject of gay people in Native culture

But actor, playwright, dancer and choreographer Waawaate Fobister said this understanding of gay people in Aboriginal communities was eroded through the cultural genocide inflicted by residential schools.

It was replaced by a more negative view of gay people introduced by western culture.

Now 30 years old, Fobister said he experienced discrimination as a young gay man growing up on the Grassy Narrows First Nation reserve in northwestern Ontario. His younger brother is also gay, and had many of the same experiences.

It's in this context that Fobister wrote his award-winning one-man play, “Agokwe” (meaning two-spirited), which he first performed with the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto in 2008.

Fobister performed “Agokwe” in Greater Sudbury Feb. 18 as part of the seventh annual Classroom Closet Conference, which was attended by 70 students from the region, and examines issues surrounding LGBT students in schools.

He also gave the keynote speech at the conference Feb. 19.

“Agokwe” features six characters, all played by Fobister, and explores the unrequited love between teenage boys from neighbouring reserves.
While the play does explore the issue of discrimination, Fobister said its overarching message is the need for unity, “now that we're all living on this land we call Canada.”

Fobister said he hoped he would be able to act as an inspiration to the youth at the Classroom Closet conference.

He planned to tell them to be proud of who they are. “And if you're struggling, it gets better,” Fobister said. “I know that's so cliched, but it does.”