Vancouver, Canada, June 4, 2020 — Thunderbird Entertainment Group’s factual division (Great Pacific Media) is pleased to announce the second season of APTN’s Queen of the Oil Patch. The documentary series follows the raw and emotional journey of one man with Two Spirits…Massey Whiteknife and Iceis Rain. The insightful and humour-filled eight-episode, half-hour series premieres on Sunday, June 7 on APTN East and HD at 9:00 p.m. ET, APTN W at 9 p.m. MT and on APTN N at 9:00 p.m. CT.
Massey Whiteknife is an Indigenous entrepreneur from the Mikisew Cree First Nation who built a million-dollar empire in the toughest town in Canada – Fort McMurray – and then lost it an oil collapse and devastating wildfire. In the first season, Massey attempted to rebuild his empire after the fires while running his business as his female spirit Iceis Rain.
In Season 2, Massey and Iceis face even bigger hurdles. Plagued by addiction and past trauma, Massey uproots from reserve life to the city of Edmonton to focus on his mental health. Together, the oil sands entrepreneur and recording star embark on a yearlong journey of healing through self-reconciliation. For Massey, this means facing childhood trauma, PTSD and addiction. For Iceis, it means reconnecting with her performance artistry to create her next album – while curbing the clubbing lifestyle.
“At a time when much of the world’s focus is on fighting intolerance, the second season of “Queen of the Oil Patch” could not be more timely in its inspirational documenting of Massey and Iceis’ journey,” says Mark Miller, Executive Producer and President of Thunderbird Entertainment.
This new season sees a brave and resilient two-spirited Massey open up his life and unreservedly share what it takes to wrestle with two spirits in one body of battered dreams. In season 2, they attempt to reconnect by immersing in their art and the Indigenous culture along the powwow trail. Searching for joy through the layers of a traumatic life ultimately lead the ever playful, goofy Massey to challenge his resilient, take-no-prisoners, alter ego Iceis Rain.
Queen of the Oil Patch Season 2 is filled with strength, courage and humour, as it chronicles the unflinching path of a two-spirit trailblazer.
The series is produced by Métis director, Neil Grahn, Indigenous Tlingit director Shirley McLean, and Mark Miller. The concept was developed by Kah-Kitowak Films in partnership with APTN.
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ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service, multiplatform production, distribution, and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various divisions, including Thunderbird kids and family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird factual (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird productions. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.
ABOUT KAH-KITOWAK FILMS
Kah-Kitowak Films is a Vancouver-based production company that works in partnership with Great Pacific Media. Kah-Kitowak produces quality factual content with a focus on positive Indigenous stories.
ABOUT APTN
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world, creating a window into the remarkably diverse mosaic of Indigenous Peoples. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, it’s the only one of its kind in North America. The network is Sharing Our Stories of authenticity in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages to nearly 11 million Canadian subscribers. With over 80% Canadian content, APTN connects with its audiences through genuine, inspiring and engaging entertainment on multiple platforms. http://aptn.ca/
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contact:
Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital
Phone: + 1 905.326.1888 ext 1
Email: glen@bristolir.com
Media Relations Contact:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
Phone: +1 604.803.0897
Email: julia@finchmedia.net
For further information about APTN, contact:
Emili Bellefleur
Manager of Communications, APTN
(438) 349-2456
ebellefleur@aptn.ca
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