Creative Queer Collective Cohort
Five local 2SLGBTQ+ artists and writers take residency for January 2025 with the aim to uplift and celebrate trans and queer existence and resistance through art, writing and ceremony. Alyjah Ermine Neil, Kait Hatch, Kat Simmers, Teigan Tulsie and Alycia Two Bears will be in residence, offering workshops and inviting the community to learn more about the work of this cohort of multi-genre writers and mixed-media artists.
Alyjah Ermine Neil; Pîsimoyâpiy Miskinâhk Nâpew - Rainbow Turtle Man Alyjah Ermine (he/they)
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Alyjah Ermine Neil; Pîsimoyâpiy Miskinâhk Nâpew - Rainbow Turtle Man Alyjah Ermine (he/they), CEO & founder of Pîsimoyâpiy Storytelling (P.S.), is a visionary in storytelling, consulting, and speaking. He is an Indigiqueer, Trans, & Two-Spirit human from Cree, Métis & mixed-European ancestry. They are a member of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, SK, Treaty 6 Territory and currently live in Moh'kins'tsis, Treaty 7 Territory.
Ayjah braids together their Indigenous ancestry and contemporary expertise to create transformative spaces for connection and growth within the 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities and society at large. Rooted in the healing power of storytelling, Alyjah approaches every narrative and collaboration as an opportunity to nurture healing, inspire change, and celebrate community. Their work is a love letter to their past selves and a powerful offering to future generations and youth.
As a Registered Social Worker holding the designation of Master of Clinical Social Work specializing in Trauma-Informed Care from the University of Calgary, Alyjah is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Indigenous wisdom and modern practice. They are a sought after consultant and speaker, recognized for their contributions to Indigenous community consultation, ethical storytelling, and fostering belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and youth.
Over the years, Alyjah has championed initiatives supporting young people navigating homelessness, substance misuse, and complex mental health challenges, while also guiding individuals through cultural reconnection, gender and sexuality exploration, and academic journeys. Their insights and authenticity resonate deeply with audiences, making them a trusted voice in community engagement and leadership.
Through their organization, Pîsimoyâpiy Storytelling, Alyjah brings their passion for stories to the forefront—creating transformative dialogues, sparking meaningful ideas, and leading the way in ethical and impactful storytelling practices. Whether speaking on stage, consulting with organizations and Indigenous communities, or guiding cultural initiatives, Alyjah’s work is grounded in their profound belief in the power of stories to heal, unite, and inspire.
Teigan Tulsie (He/Him) aka “The Armoured Artist”
thearmouredartist.etsy.com
IG: teigan_tulsie
@Teigan_Tulsie on TikTok, Threads, and Blue Sky
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Teigan Tulsie (He/Him) aka “The Armoured Artist” is a queer biracial transman and knight on a quest to make the world more gay with his handmade 2SLGBTQIA+ chainmail jewelry!
Teigan seeks to give those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (and other marginalized intersecting communities) a ‘Local Queer Chainsmith’ to turn to for tailored accessories and jewelry. Too often queer folks who want to show their pride are relegated to wearing ill fitting mass made promotional tat paid for by a non-queer caring corporation.
Teigan believes queers deserve ‘swag in their flag’ — things that fit them, and their style, and he is happy to be the one to make his people feel seen and adorned.
Alycia Two Bears (she/her)
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Alycia Two Bears is a member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation who calls Mohkinstsis home. A mixed blooded iskwew; her mother Karen Hines is a white settler of Swedish descent and her father is Keith Head, also a member of Mistawasis Nehiyawak First Nation.
A single mother to five children, she is an advocate for home births, midwives and access to the best birth options for every birthing body. Alycia, a Birth Keeper, is an aspiring midwife who practices Birthing as Ceremony. Raised in the late Sharron Proulx-Turners Sweat lodge, the teachings received in a Two Spirit, female led and focused community are near and dear to their heart; The safest place to grow spiritually, particularly as a bisexual iskwew. She believes supporting pregnant and birthing bodies is one of the greatest actions we can embrace to grow strong, healthy, viable communities.
Alycia works within several community endeavors to bring teachings around Moon Time, Sexuality, Prenatal, Pregnancy, and Birthing to the urban community. Alycia co-created the Moon Time Bag Project in Calgary in 2021. The project strives to meet the need of bleeding bodies who are currently navigating houselessness in Calgary. Through monetary and physical donations, volunteers and Alycia put together kits of underwear, pads, liners, tampons, chocolate, deodorant in the summer, hand/feet warmers in the winter, chapstick year round, chocolate and teas to soothe the womb.
This project encourages the youth to provide free supplies in their high school bathrooms, to reduce the potential of petty theft charges to Indigenous youth, simply meeting a body need. It also encourages us to continue the care bodies need when they are bleeding; rest, warmth and tenderness.
Alycia’s academics lay in early childhood education. They received their first degree, Bachelor of General Studies, minor in Canadian Studies, from the University of Calgary in 2006. She then went on to graduate from the University of Calgary’s Masters of Education program, with a Bachelors of Education, with the focus on early childhood education, in 2008. Alycia trained through DONAs Birth Doula course to formally enter into the birth realm. She has since learned under Raeanne Madison, taking her PostPartum Healing Lodge Training, to support postpartum bodies and families.
Alycia just recently completed Aya Maria’s Guardians of Birth offering. Learning how to disrupt ancestral stories rooted in trauma and step further into her role as a Birth Guardian, a role gifted to her from birth and the stars. She completed The Indigenous Center of Midwifery’s, Childbirth Educator Course in the summer of 2024. Through The Breathe Method, Alycia completed their 80 hours of prenatal yoga teacher training in 2018 under Amy Martin. She then went on to complete the 200 hours yoga teacher training under Lacey Smith and Chris Rurka, in 2019. Finally, she completed her 45 hours of Yin Teacher Training under Laine Knox in 2019. Bringing together her Lodge teachings from Sharron, through the Breathe method, she created the Land Based Yoga workshop. Creating a space to connect breath to the body, held by the safety of the mat and land. She has offered this workshop and regular classes to youth, adults, pregnant and postpartum bodies and those in post detox/addictions treatment.
Kat Simmers (She/Her)
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Kat Simmers is a trans woman, artist, author, and muralist working in comic media and street art to create community connections through visual media. Born and raised in a special kind of nowhere - Bashaw, Alberta (pop. 830) - Simmers experienced firsthand the intersection of queer and rural life.
Co-Author & illustrator of the graphic novel series Pass Me By, her work connects communities to unseen parts of their histories and challenges the public to see beyond the everyday. Her murals and graphic novels engage the public in conversations about queer identity, mental health and what happens to the stories you never tell.
Kaitlyn Hatch (any pronoun)
KaitlynSCHatch.com
blog: kschatch.substack.com
IG: @ksc_hatch Tumblr: @faunawolf
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Kait Hatch (Any pronoun) is a multi-genre writer, mixed-medium artist, and trained Buddhist Chaplain.
All their creative work is infused with their dedication to anti-racism, disability justice, and collective liberation. She is committed to building and growing community and uplifting other queer and disabled artists and writers.
Kait currently produces a collaborative community ‘zine called From the QILT2BAG+, is working on several Buddhist Thangka pieces, and has been working on a mixed-media embroidery series called Sacred Love/Sacred Lives since late 2022.