Queen of the Oil Patch celebrates two-spirit Fort McMurray entrepreneur - Action News
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Queen of the Oil Patch celebrates two-spirit Fort McMurray entrepreneur

Massey Whiteknife's sassy, entrepreneurial and voluptuous style is coming to the small screen in a docu-series titled Queen of the Oil Patch.

Series stars businessman Massey Whiteknife, who transforms into entertainer Iceis Rain

A promo photo for the upcoming show Queen of the Oil Patch featuring Massey Whiteknife. (Great Pacific TV)

Massey Whiteknife'ssassy, entrepreneurial and voluptuous style is coming to the small screen in a docu-seriestitled Queen of the Oil Patch.

The documentary/reality TV show premieres Tuesday night on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Itplaces the spotlight on Whiteknife, a two-spirited First Nations entrepreneur whotransforms into IceisRain, all against the landscape of Fort McMurray'soilsandsregion.

The trailer for the eight-episode season depicts Massey day-to-day, meeting contractors and roughnecks.

Then itquickly cuts toIceisRain, wearing cherry-red lipstick and sashayinginpeacockheaddresses, fur coats and bejewelledstilettos.

"I don't identify myself astrans[gender],"Whiteknifesaid in aCBCinterview. "I identify myself as two-spirited and that is the journey throughout the show. I always tell people you don't need to put yourself in a label that society says.

"And I am not a big fan of having all these labels because then we are going to have this alphabet right across the board."

First Nations people use the term two-spirit to describe someone who has both masculine and feminine identities.

Massey Whiteknife transforms into Iceis Rain in real life and in the new Reality TV show Queen of the Oil Patch. (Great Pacific TV/ Submitted)

The show follows Whiteknifeas henavigates life after the Fort McMurraywildifire,operating a struggling business in a tanking economy.

Somemoments depictWhiteknifeas an upholder of Indigenous culture who keeps traditional dance and spirituality alivein the21stcentury.

He's also a champion forLGBTQ2youth who are bullied, and urges them to be themselves and not live for others.

"I dress up because I am a woman. And why can't I?" Whiteknifesaid."I hope what people take away from the show is the real me."

Drama and a search for self

In the show,Whiteknifeowns and operates a program called Get Ready; which helpsFirst Nations people find full-time employment in Canada.

But the trailer also promises glamour,layers of makeup and "porn star"Botoxlips as Whiteknifedescribes in hisbrash style. There's also late-night drama and other twists, including a record album and a vehicle accident.

Whiteknifealso ponders identity questions about whether he will transition from male to female.

"The large part of the question is, can I continue to sustain my lifestyle as Massey andIceisRain?"Whiteknifesaid.

"Or am I going to get rid of one or the other. So, will I transition full-time?

"You will just have to watch to find out."

Queen of the Oil Patch airs Tuesday nights on APTNat 10.30pm.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca