ICEIS Rain
ICEIS Rain is a two-spirit awardwinning entertainer, public speaker and entrepreneur from Fort McKay, Alberta, Canada. Born and raised male as Massey Whiteknife, ICEIS Rain—his recording artist alter ego—is a strong fearless woman who is much more than the fur coats and sparkly stilettos she’s known for.
Empowered by strength, independence and beauty, ICEIS draws on Whiteknife’s traumatic past to empower others through music, giving a voice to those who are not often heard. In addition to entertaining the masses as a performer, ICEIS is a philanthropist, a mentor for First Nations people and an anti-bullying advocate for LGBTQ2 youth.
ICEIS wrote and produced both her first and second album. Her 2014 debut album The Queen is a diverse collection of rock anthems and ballads with country flair, and earned five nominations at the 2014 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards. Redemption, released in 2018, showcases her electric style, and her single “Striptease” is still reaching top 20 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.
An entertainer by night and a successful businessman by day, ICEIS, or rather
Whiteknife, is a proud member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and an oilpatch entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of ICEIS Safety, with over 20 years of experience in the industry.
Whiteknife is also a survivor. He has overcome years of sexual abuse, bullying, addiction and homelessness to become a successful, multifaceted entrepreneur. He has built an empire by learning to cope with dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder and by embracing his inner sassy, voluptuous premier drag queen, ICEIS.
Embodied in the same person, ICEIS and Whiteknife live two separate lives, but it was only a matter of time until their worlds collided on the same journey. Melding the life of the entertainer with the businessman, ICEIS is the star of APTN’s groundbreaking docuseries
Queen of the Oil Patch and the critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary Oil Sands Karaoke.
In addition to being featured in a number of noteworthy publications (including Alberta Venture Magazine, Breakfast Television, City TV and CBC Radio), ICEIS was the first two-spirited, First Nations person to perform live on national television and the first two-spirited female fancy dancer to be initiated in the pow-wow circle.
ICEIS’ dedication to her profession and philanthropic activities have made her a sought-after public speaker, where she helps others develop the tools they need to overcome adversity and succeed in their personal lives and careers. She’s willing to share not only the highs but also the lows of an exceptional life. Today, her growing celebrity status and extraordinary life story are inspiring audiences from all walks of life.