Beaufort Delta students are leading Inuvik Pride this year

After 50 people came together to give Inuvik its first Pride parade in 2018, the annual celebration has kept on growing.

More than 500 people attended last year’s event and organizers say this time around, students are taking charge.

Jacqui Currie, a health and wellness consultant at the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council, said students “just really saying ‘we want to be supported,’ and community members recognizing the need for support,” had driven the increased turnout year on year.

Currie says she has helped to plan Inuvik’s Pride since it turned into a regional event three years ago, with students from other Beaufort Delta communities joining in. Last year, the parade coincided with a visit of various nations’ ambassadors to the North – as a result, the Dutch ambassador spoke at the event.

This year, Currie says students and teachers from Tsiigehtchic, Ulukhaktok and Inuvik have helped to form a planning committee.

Marshal Jellema, a student at Inuvik’s East Tree Secondary School, describes working with fellow peers on the project as “a big warm hug from someone that you love.”

“I want to create a safe, positive space and encourage everyone to live their truth,” Jellema told Cabin Radio, adding their favourite part has been “working with allies and fellow queer people all across the Beaufort Delta.”

The three-day event is usually held in June. This year, it is expected to take place in late May to fit the local academic schedule. Organizers say the event has received funding from Maca, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Gwich’in Tribal Council, BDDEC and Inuvik Regional Hospital.

Currie hopes 500 people turn up again for the show.

“It is a weekday, so we do anticipate that numbers could be a little lower this year,” she said, noting May also won’t be quite as warm as June.

“This is the first year there’s an actual committee that got together and planned ahead of time. [Previously] they’ve had input and we’ve asked them what they wanted but we did a bulk of the heavy lifting. [This year,] they’ve really taken it on,” said Currie.

Participants can enjoy a variety of activities leading up to the main Pride parade and barbecue on the third day. Arctic sports, drama, dance and a student-led session on sexuality and gender identity form parts of the planned agenda this time.

A popular session from 2023 was a mentorship supper that will make a comeback this year. Currie said students will get an opportunity to “know there are support systems out there” over a meal with adult members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Inuvik.

In 2021, Anthony Johnson and James Makokis – who appeared on season seven of The Amazing Race Canada – were invited to the town as keynote speakers. This year’s speakers have not been decided yet.

“Part of the reason why we went regional was so we can have the students create a network for themselves, just knowing that sometimes in the community it’s a little bit difficult,” said Currie.

“Students on the planning committee really got to know each other and spend time while they were doing the planning, which was really nice to see.

“Our communities are really spread out, so they don’t get to see each other often. It’s just really nice to see them connect and spend time with friends, and just meet new people.”

Although Jellema has noticed “huge acceptance” of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals at schools in the region, they said conversations on the topic are limited.

“It’s nice to see that there are people willing to support everywhere, even in the remote regions of Canada,” Jellema said.

“It doesn’t only show that there’s support in our communities for people like us, but it also shows that there are ways to have fun. It’s not just tolerance, it’s acceptance and open love for each other and whoever we want.

“I am going to attend Pride until the day I die, until the day that I stop being prideful.”