Amazing Two Spirit Couple

Amazing Two Spirit Couple Biogarphy

The Amazing Two Sprit Couple, Anthony Johnson and Dr. James Makokis are two of Turtle Islands’ most powerful voices in advocacy for equity, equality & inclusivity for LGBTQ2S+ & Indigenous populations. Most well known for their appearance and victory on The Amazing Race Season 7, the couple continues their work in the community and in service to share their message across the nation.

After travelling more than 20,000 kilometres across 6 provinces, 1 territory, and 14 cities, Dr. James Makokis (Cree) and Anthony Johnson (Diné) are the first Indigenous, Two-Spirit couple to shatter stereotypes to win Amazing Race Canada, hence known as The Amazing two Spirit Couple – Team Ahkameyimok. Not without its challenges during the season, they were able to continuously work together to shatter stereotypes, keep resilient and work together to stay in the race and pass each stage of the race. The Amazing Two Spirit Couple turned out to be an unstoppable force by the end of the season which eventually led them to become winners of the Amazing Race Canada Season 7. The Amazing Race is not an easy challenge to win, as the couple surpassed Canadian Olympic Athletes and some fierce competitors during the season.

The Amazing Two Spirit Couple’s story goes much further than their appearance and victory, on the Amazing Race Canada. The Amazing Two Spirit Couple used the media coverage and platform to confront stereotypes, homophobia, ignorance, and racism, and raise awareness of issues faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the United States and around the World. Makokis and Johnson Indigenized the race starting from their team’s name, Team Ahkameyimok (in Cree: “Don’t give up, keep going, use whatever you have to get something done.”) Their team motto was also Ahkameyimok! A phrase their elders use to encourage others to do their best and keep going no matter what the challenge or how difficult of a situation one is faced with. “Ahkameyimok!” was not only true to their performance on the Amazing Race, but it was something true to both of their personal stories before they met each other. The Amazing Two Spirit Couple both grew up living in segregated First Nation communities that were deprived of access to social programming, equal education, and limited economic opportunities.

The famous Amazing Couple both have a unique experience as identifying as Two-Spirit, being advocates for a wide variety of social and community programs and being leaders in and outside of their communities. Two-Spirit, an umbrella term that Indigenous people use to describe people in their communities who are gender-nonconforming, gives them both the ability to access ‘male and female’ traits to accomplish anything they need to. As both of them navigated challenges as Two-Spirit at an early age, they both felt segregation and bullying from their own community members, and both had to struggle every day to find and be themselves while learning to cope with the constant negative reinforcement and pressure for who they were. These were the first times they as individuals had to tap into “Ahkameyimok” every single day. Their personal struggles and relationships were a constant reinforcement of being outed as being “different” while coping with layers of discrimination, all sorts of bullies and being excluded from peer groups and everyday social interactions.

Dr. James Makokis is a Nehiyô (Neh-hee-yo) Two-Spirit doctor from the Onihcikiskapowinihk (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) in Treaty Number Six Territory. He practices Family Medicine in Kinokamasihk (Kih-no-kum-a-sick) Cree Nation in northeastern Alberta and has a transgender health-focused practice in South Edmonton. He was the inaugural Medical Director at Shkaabe Makwa (Shkaa-bay Muh-kwa) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto – the first Indigenous health centre designed to lead systems’ transformation in Indigenous mental health across the country.  He is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. In 2020 Dr. Makokis was named one of the 30 most powerful physicians in the country by The Medical Post but believes power is a concept that should be shared amongst others.  Dr. Makokis is a regular guest on the Marilyn Denis show and a commentator in the media. Dr. Makokis is enthusiastic about revitalizing the Nehiyô medical system, educating people about Treaty, and working toward the vision of Turtle Island, which is to live together in peace and friendship.

Anthony Johnson, a self-proclaimed spiritual nomad, is an artist, poet, photographer, cultural documentarian, community leader and strategic analyst whose mission in life is to explore the beauty of the Earth and its inhabitants. A proud Two-Spirt warrior from Navajo Nation, he has been on a mission to discover purpose and reconnect himself and others through traditional knowledge and healing. He has lived in many cities across Turtle Island and even had a short stint in Shanghai, China where he went as an exchange student to achieve his Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology.  He later went to Harvard University in 2009 and received his Bachelor of Economics. With a vast amount of experience and knowledge, Anthony has contributed to play a major role in working with startups that drive social impact within the tech industry, and fashion world as well as mentoring Two-Spirit Youth along his journey. His move to Treaty 6 Territory in Edmonton, Alberta marked the beginning of the newest chapter in his life when he wed his husband, Dr. James Makokis while running the BMO Harris Vancouver Marathon in 2017. Anthony currently works alongside Dr. James Makokis as a Project Coordinator in Kehewin Cree Nation where he is helping to revitalize Traditional Cree birthing practices, medicines, and ceremonies as they relate to the Cree 7 Stages of Life philosophy. He is an aspiring filmmaker who believes in the power of stories to bring healing.