Photo: Ogimaawabiitong staff join Kenora Pride Co-Chair Kaddie Vaughan at Kenora City Hall on June 14, 2024.

Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is proud to recognize, support, and celebrate Pride Month and the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community in Treaty #3 through a new partnership with Kenora Pride.

Ogimaawabiitong became an official sponsor of Kenora Pride – a volunteer-run organization which celebrates the diversity of Kenora’s Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community – at Kenora City Hall on June 14, 2024.

Co-Chair of Kenora Pride, Kaddie Vaughan, explains the significance of forming the new partnership – as it helps to increase visibility among our queer and Indigenous youth in the area.

“With Kenora Pride taking place on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Treaty #3 territory, there are many, many Indigenous people who belong to the queer community,” they said.

“And in particular, our youth – they’re our future and they are some of the most at-risk when it comes to the intersectionality of being Indigenous and maybe being a queer person, and how it can affect their lives.”

“And this is only the beginning of the partnership that we’re going to have with the Kenora Chiefs Advisory going forward,” Vaughan adds.

“So, hopefully, we can create some positive change in our community, create some visibility, create some conversation around what it means to be queer, Indigenous, and living in the Treaty #3 territory. This generous donation is just one of many parts of that.”

Ogimaawabiitong provided Kenora Pride with the $2,000 donation through funding Kenora Chiefs Advisory received to advocate against gender-based violence in northwestern Ontario.

Diversity and Inclusion Lead for KCA, Bobby Hudon, notes this donation is only the first step towards a strong community partnership.

“What a great way to advocate for such an important movement in our communities, especially during Pride month,” said Hudon.

“It’s a great opportunity for KCA to become a visible force and ally with Kenora Pride. All of this work ties into that intersection of diversity, inclusion, and working towards reducing stigmas and violence based around gender, sexuality, and relationship-diverse people.”

June is recognized as Pride Month in Canada, as well as National Indigenous History Month.