jaqs gallos aquines

A photo of jaqs gallos aquines and a small white dog named Bowie
jaqs gallos aquines and Bowie | Photo: Linda Kee

jaqs gallos aquines

Anti-racism is a revolution that cannot be ignored

By: Cherie McMaster

A Calgary-based documentary filmmaker, photographer, composer, activist, and community collaborator, jaqs gallos aquines’ work focuses on anti-racism.

Their first anthology Home is in the Body: 2SLGBTQIA+ Filipinx Femme, North of the 49th Parallel is published by Anak Publishing out of Winnipeg. This book features portraits and interviews with over 40 radical, brilliant FilipinX femme, mostly from Canada, some from the States, who identify as trans Pinay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, questioning, asexual, aromantic, gender non-conforming, and some as allies of 2SLGBTQIA+.

“I’m a person who is absolutely dedicated to anti-racism and equity,” she says. “My trajectory of work, personal life, has been shifted by the work that I did with AROC—the Anti-Racism Organizational Change Project—through CommunityWise Resource Centre, lead by the equity coordinator Thulasy Lettner.”

Tune into this week’s Storytelling Podcast to hear about their journey, how the Cultural Instigators came to be, and the constant anti-racism work being done in Mohkinsstsis.

About The Storytelling Podcast

Part of The Storytelling Project, this series raises awareness about Calgarians who, by living creative lives, are making Calgary a better city, affecting positive change and enriching others’ lives.

Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Part of The Storytelling Project, this series raises awareness about Calgarians who, by living creative lives, are making Calgary a better city, affecting positive change and enriching others’ lives.

Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Part of The Storytelling Project, this series raises awareness about Calgarians who, by living creative lives, are making Calgary a better city, affecting positive change and enriching others’ lives.

Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

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Our Commitment to Equity

Our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation, racial equity, disability justice, and gender and sexual diversity.

We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to the Metis Nations 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit peoples from across Turtle Island.

We acknowledge that there has been art, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony on this land since time immemorial and it is in the spirit of this land and its people that we do our work.

Please see our full Commitment to Equity, including the sections on our aspirations, accountability, current initiatives and EDIA history.