A Different Kind of Pageant Winner

Posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021

Pageants aren’t what they used to be, and for that today’s young women and those who respect their skills and values have reason to be grateful.

Take the Miss Eeyou Eenou Iskwaau (MEEI) pageant organized by the Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association to celebrate the young women of the Cree Nation. According to the pageant website, “one of the goals of the pageant is to empower young women in Eeyou Istchee, to help them grow as a person, come out of their shell, and shine bright for all to see how beautiful and sacred they are inside and out.”

For Geraldine Trapper, the current Miss Eeyou Eenou Iskwaau, her title gives her a unique platform for education and advocacy. “I am a part of the LGBTQ2S community, I am a two-spirited woman,” says the Algonquin College General Arts and Science student, currently studying Indigenous Studies and Justice.

Since winning the title in April, Trapper has been preparing to speak to young people about a variety of issues including LGBTQ2S issues. “I wanted to advocate and share that it’s OK to be who you are,” says Trapper. “I wanted to be a voice to let people know that better days will come. There is a community and they are loved. They don’t need to feel lost and alone.”

Trapper explains that the Cree Nation is still gathering resources regarding the two-spirit community. “Being two spirit is to be blessed with feminine and masculine spirit living inside of us,” she says. “It is a sacred thing to identify as and honour and acknowledge as well.” She says one of her goals is to bring these new resources to her community to allow people to have the freedom to express themselves.

This is a personal issue for Trapper, whose sister was kicked out of her community when she was younger, resulting in Trapper “staying in the closet longer.”

She believes it is important to educate and support Indigenous LGBTQ2S youth. “There is love and acceptance for LGBTQ+,” she says. “We need to reduce how youth go through mental health struggles. There is a high rate of youth attempting suicide (due to) how they identify and are not accepted. I want them to know that things will get better and I want to show them they are OK who they are.”

The ongoing pandemic has made speaking engagements difficult, but Trapper looks forward to visiting local and regional communities and participating in events online. She expects to participate in events at the Mamidosewin Centre and during Pride events in June.

The MEEI pageant organizers state their determination to assist “the young women in our membership who are seeking experiences that will shape them into stronger, more outspoken leaders.” It appears Trapper is already well on her way to achieving that goal.


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