Anthony Johnson and James Makokis are tackling every The Amazing Race Canada challenge and blasting through any barriers that stand in their way.
“I think one of the things we wanted to demonstrate, especially to young two-spirit indigenous youth, is that they’re amazing human beings and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. We wanted to show them, and be visible as a gay married indigenous couple on TV, that there are other people like them, and that if they have the support of their family or community, they can be and do whatever it is they want to do," Makokis, who's from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, said.
They both work in Kehewin; Makokis as a doctor and Johnson as a project coordinator with Kehewin Health Services.
Johnson was originally from Navajo Nation in Arizona, U.S., but currently, the couple reside in Edmonton.
As avid adrenaline seekers, the pair always dreamed to one day participate on The Amazing Race Canada.
Just before they were set to go on holidays in December, fate stepped in and sent them a sign.
“It was a fax encouraging us to apply, which we had thought about in the past," noted Johnson. "We had thought about it, but had never taken the time to look at the website and do the research. When we got the fax, we thought, ‘oh wow, this is a sign from the universe that we should apply.’"
They used their holiday in Costa Rica to create a casting video and fill out the application.
“We wanted to do The Amazing Race Canada because we’re always up for adventure. We like doing crazy things – we were zip lining in Costa Rica, we’ve hiked the Grand Canyon, we regularly backpack, and this was something that was always on our bucket list,” exclaimed Johnson.
From marathon trail running to long distance races, the duo are always ready for a challenge, even if it includes going head-to-head against nine other teams in The Amazing Race Canada.
They're using this experience to raise awareness about some issues near and dear to their hearts, and are taking the opportunity to fundraise for a cultural healing centre in Kehewin.
“In exchange for a donation, Kehewin is gifting donors t-shirts that James and I wore on the show,” Johnson detailed.
Some of the shirts sport their team name: Team Ahkameyimok, a Plains Cree language word.
“It means don’t give up, do your best, and try your hardest,” described Johnson.
Other designs include Water is Life and cartoon versions of themselves. Their fundraising goal is $250,000.
According to Makokis, Johnson designed the Water is Life t-shirts, "specifically for us to talk about the importance of water and protecting and preserving our environment especially as it relates to (British Columbia) and the location we were at, which was the Tk'emlúpsemc people, who are from Kamloops who are fighting to preserve their territory from pipeline development… because we’re all affected by not having drinking water or safe drinking water, especially indigenous nations.”
Makokis continued, “Part of the graphic on the shirt references to a Wampum Treaty, which was agreed to at the Treaty of Niagara. It talks about an indigenous canoe and European boat travelling side-by-side down the river of life, and we wouldn’t impede each other’s boat or canoe, but work together in harmony."
Johnson said they came up with the idea for the shirts "to be able to be ourselves and communicate indigenous ideas graphically, because we can’t control what the show puts on, but we control who we are.”
Makokis described the fundraising venture as a great way to bring people together in a positive way.
Makokis said one of the favourite stories they've heard about their t- shirts, was where a teenager assisted her mother during her at-home birth, proudly wearing her Team Ahkameyimok shirt.
"It’s just cool to have stories like that, because it really demonstrates people’s pride. You can feel, especially from the indigenous and LGBTQ2+ community, their sense of pride that they’re being represented, because they don’t normally see themselves on TV or on shows like The Amazing Race Canada."
Makokis continued, “That’s one of the coolest things about this year, is there’s a lot of diversity amongst the cast."
Team Ahkameyimok are hoping to spread an even larger message through their participation in the nationwide television show, which has teams compete in various events while racing their way across the country.
“It’s important on the challenges to show people when they see or think of (LGBTQ2+), you might put them in a box, there’s a stereotype out there that gay men aren’t masculine so they can’t do masculine things, and here, James got the dirt bike on his second attempt… We’re racing against teams, and it’s really showing Canada that you don’t fit into a box, anybody can do anything that they put their minds to, and whatever stereotypes or preconceived notions that people may have about the LGBTQ2+ community, they’re not true, because we can do everything and anything everyone else can do."
So far, only two episodes have aired and Makokis admitted they've "been extremely stressed out," up to this point.
"We’ve been at the back of the pack,” Makokis laughed.
“I’ve loved seeing what the other racers experience. When you’re on the race, you’re solo with your teammate and going through each challenge. You might see each other at a challenge, but hopefully you don’t because you’re busting through them and getting onto the next, but watching the show has been really fun to see their reactions and their experiences,” added Johnson.
They've been hosting viewing parties with friends and family in Edmonton, and have taken advantage of the chance to start the conversation about what they stand for.
“It’s really fun to see people reacting to our experience,” Johnson said. “It’s also an opportunity for us to connect with them about the causes that we’re passionate about. Specifically right now, it’s to raise funds for a cultural healing centre in Kehewin, so it’s been really great to connect about the show and the real reasons we went on the show, which were to be visible as a two-spirit indigenous couple on TV."
Johnson added, it's also “giving non-indigenous people an opportunity to see into the lives on indigenous communities and see themselves in us and connect."
“It’s allowing the barriers to be taken down a bit and for people to connect with us as humans, because at the end of the day, we’re all humans and we’re all the same. Having the opportunity to connect with people over a crazy dirt bike challenge or a zip line, any of the things that we do on the race is allowing us to see each other as humans, to connect, have a good time, and build relationships that on a pathway forward for making Canada more complete and welcoming.”
The pair encourage the community to get involved, get a shirt, and be a part of the change.
“One of the great things about The Amazing Race Canada, is it’s that summertime experience that brings the country together. Everyone loves watching the show; it’s the highest-rated over the summer in Canada. Everyone knows about it and knows the challenges, and in exchange for a donation, not only are you able to contribute to a cause that’s fulfilling on the promises of treaty, and in a way moving towards reconciliation, but you also get to be a part of Team Ahkameyimok.”
Shirts are available at Pharmasave in Bonnyville.
