First Nations oilsands tycoon defies odds as Karaoke queen

ICEIS Rain is quite the belle of the ball. She is a fun-loving, empowered woman wholikes to dress up, perform, sing, and be the center of attention.

Massey Whiteknife is a34 year-old male living in Fort McMurray, Alberta who overcame childhood sexualabuse, bullying, and survivedgang rape to become an award-winning entrepreneuroperating a multi-million dollar business.

ICEIS Rain and Massey Whiteknifeare the same person. They live in the same body, but each have their own passions,pursuits and presence.

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Aboriginal people are two times more likely than non-Aboriginal people toexperience violent victimization, and aboriginal youth between the age of 15 34are two and a half times more likely to be the experience violent victimization thanAboriginal people over the age of 35.

These harrowing statistics give evidence of the sheer amount of Aboriginal peoplewho have to overcome many issues and adversity to survive, much less to thrive.

Whiteknife, 34, from Mikisew Cree First Nation leveraged his trauma copingmechanisms so that they worked for him, rather than against him. When he wasdiagnosed with disassociated post-traumatic stress disorder in his early adulthood, hecreated an alter-ego named ICEIS Rain as one of his coping mechanisms.

In the spotlight as ICEIS Rain

ICEIS Rain received a lot of attention last year asshe become one of the featuredperformers in the documentary Oil Sands Karaoke, which premiered at Hot Docs filmfestival in Toronto. This feature set ICEIS Rain into greater momentum as the public eyebegan to turn its spotlight in her direction.

I was becoming somebody I wanted to become throughICEISRain...[I] realized thatICEISRAIN was teaching Massey to be stronger andstand up for himself and face those fears, but of course, while still continuing to work.- Massey Whiteknife / ICEIS Rain

Her goal is to become a singer and shes working on recording her first album and hasalready released her first music video, The Queen, which is now available on YouTube.

I was becoming somebody I wanted to become through ICEIS Rain. I was forgettingabout Massey. I felt like I was very robotic when I was Massey. I was working, andworking, and I would do was work. I was having more fun as ICEIS Rain, he says.

Through therapy, [I] realized that ICEIS RAIN was teaching Massey to be stronger andstand up for himself and face those fears, but of course, while still continuing to work.

Finding success in the oil and gas industry

Massey built up his Fort McMurray business quickly, and its now known as the ICEISGroup of Companies, which includes ICEIS Safety, ICEIS Earth, ICEIS Enviro, andICEIS Industry. This oil sands service businesshas doubled itsrevenue for the past three years to become a multi-million dollar operation.

The journey to the top is one that Massey will never forget. He started his companybeing told he could never make it as an openly gay male in an industry traditionallylauded for its masculine energy.

He initially bootstrapped his business, and createdguerrilla style meetings with those who wouldnt give him a chance.

You can turn me away if I don't do a good job, you can throw me out of the building,but if you dont give me a chance because of my sexuality, well, that just doesntmake sense, he says.

That way, if I dont do the job, then you can say at least yougave me a shot.

Giving back, giving others a chance

Massey Whiteknife truly believes that everyone deserves a shot, despite where theyhave come from, and what adversities they have had to overcome.

Whiteknife has started two initiativesthe Massey WhiteknifeFoundation and the Get Ready Program, and an annual anti-bullying drag showin Fort McMurray.

The Foundation is dedicated to helping at-risk youth throughtraining and outdoor leadership, spreading the anti-bullying message, and inspiringAboriginal people to follow their dreams.

The Get Ready Program providesAboriginal and Mtis people and communities innovative career placement,mentoring, coaching and training to help them thrive and prosper.

I donate a lot of my money to the Get Ready Camp. I also donate a lot of money back tothe community and into the region with sponsorships, he says. You cant die with yourmoney.

Who is going to be that person for the people who have been victimized, whovegone through that trauma and whos going to stand up for these Aboriginal peoplewho are trying to make it in the business world?- Massey Whiteknife/ ICEIS Rain

Who is going to be that person for the people who have been victimized, whovegone through that trauma and whos going to stand up for these Aboriginal peoplewho are trying to make it in the business world?

Through his advocacy work, his alter-ego ICEIS Rain, and his business work in theoil sands, Whiteknife is standing up and making a difference to shine the spotlighton issues that matter.

Im willing to be a soldier for Creator. I would take all of the pain if I could, foreverybody thats going through, or has gone through, what I have, or can relate towhat Ive been through, he says. People need to know that this is happening andtheyre not alone out there in the world.