Growing up in northern Manitoba as a person who is a part of the 2SLGBTQIA community was not an easy thing for many who lived and experienced it. It’s something that Connie Merasty has first-hand lived experience in and it forced her to leave her home community to find a safe place.
“I’m turning 58 years old this year and was born and raised in Opaskwayak Cree Nation(OCN),” said Merasty. “I’m the eleventh of twelve children. I’ve lived in cities, mainly Winnipeg, for over 30 years. That was where my advocacy work started.
“It was a big culture shock for me as a young person to come from OCN to Winnipeg. When I left my home community, it was under great duress. I struggled a lot with substance abuse and all of the things that come with living a life of homelessness. I didn’t have an education when I went to Winnipeg, so I was left to my own devices for survival.