Combs & Underland Down The Rabbit Hole With...

Oneg is a fabulous writer who delves into a wide range of genre and topic. A fierce advocate of the Pride community, Oneg is not only a talented wordsmith but they are also extremely supportive of other writers. As a teacher they understand the power of words and the importance of language in building self-esteem and confidence in our young people. In this week's extra special edition, we were over the moon to catch up with them about life in The Arctic and beyond, Oneg is also part of the admin team for Queer Vocal Voices on Facebook.

(Pleasantries and Stuff)

MC: Something I've always wondered is if Oneg: is your real name or a chosen name. and what does it mean?

Oneg: Oneg is my Hebrew name, though just a few weeks ago I put in some gov applications to make it my legal middle name

Oneg: It means ‘pleasure’ 😅 (my parents had fun I guess)

MC: I love it lol.

Underland: Me too! Soooo...The Arctic'...I'm kind of fascinated- How did that happen? I mean moving there?

Oneg: Hahaha well… Right after I graduated from university with my teaching degree, job hunting was kind of on the radar. I almost took up a position as a program coordinator to run 2SLGBTQ+ programs in my hometown. But I hooked up with someone at a Pride parade and then a month after they sent me a link about all the perks of teaching in the north and how there was a huge teacher shortage. So it was kind of a big “fuck it!” moment and a quick way to get out of my parents house 😅😂

MC: How long have you been married?

Oneg: Two years now

MC: Congratulations!

Oneg: Thank you!

Underland: What was your ceremony like? Did you have it in the Arctic or…?

Oneg: Well we had it in Toronto on my parents back patio in the winter… and it was like 11 people #covidwedding We always wanted to do one in Mexico (which is where my wife and her family are from) but we never got around to it, time and money wise. My parents had this like gazebo thing on their patio so they covered and sealed it with like this plastic see-through tarp and then they put heaters inside and decorated it.

That’s my wife in the space, but like to give you an idea of it. It was a tight spot but it worked considering we were a small group

MC: She looks like a fairy queen standing in her garden palace..

Underland: That's so pretty! I mean the space and the cloak! Is your wife from Toronto also?

Oneg: It was really gorgeous: No, she’s from Mexico. We were doing long distance for a few years, Covid didn’t help. But I’d go to Mexico from the Arctic, and then she came to Canada a few weeks before we got married. And now we live in Canada.

Underland: Ah of course I knew that! I read your gorgeous article about it and grandma who doesn’t speak English but the connection was there!

MC: Well, while Celia’s is down the rabbit hole..You teach how many kids ?

Underland: Leave me 'lone. Ha here it is! When You're Adopted Into Your Wife's Mexican Catholic Christmas. Brilliant!

Oneg: My class is only 9 kids right now...I have the smallest class

MC: It's nice to teach smaller classes. Kids seem to learn more

Oneg: Our school is K-grade 12 and I think we have like 117 students registered The community I live in is only like 450 people. My class is… entertaining we have a lot of fun!

Underland: How old are they, the kids?

Oneg: It’s a Grade 5/6 class, so aged 10-11ish. I’ve taught kids in Grade 1-9, so I’m … flexible 😂 lots of patience

Underland: I have so much respect for you! No way I'd have the patience for that!

MC: My daughter goes to a school in a very small school district also. Her class was one of the smallest and she's pretty bright. Who's your favorite author?

Oneg: To be honest… I don’t really have one. I read a LOT. But I don’t usually search by authors. I do love Waubgeshig Rice, Richard Wagamese, Rupi Kaur. But I don’t think I have a favorite per se.

Underland: So how did writing come about for you?

Oneg: I've been writing my whole life honestly. But in Grade 8 we had to create this poetry portfolio. And I wrote this one poem about being such an outside and loner, and I remember being so proud of it cause it was damn good for a preteen. And then I just lost myself in poetry for years. It was the voice I had when no one wanted to listen or care. Later in high school I got into short story writing a bit, and in university I met the world of Spoken Word. I loved being a part of the spoken word/slam scene. I did pretty well too. I'd always be busy penning something down, or screaming poetry at empty bus stops. When I moved up north, I think I focused more on short stories and micro fiction. I have a lot of that. But Vocal was what I dived into when I moved up north as a way for me to tell the stories of my northern adventures

Underland: So you're writing a novel, Pretty exciting stuff! - tell us about that!

Oneg: ahhhh okay. so.I started writing it when the pandemic hit (i think?), so typical, I know. And then I FINALLY finished it this past October. And now the editing is happening (slowly- like snail pace- like sleepy snail pace), but I hope to submit it to publishers by May

Underland: What's it about? Like the main premise?

Oneg: It's like a fantasy realism queer romance, that tells the story of two parts that finally become one. And both the bad and good consequences of that union.

MC: That sounds so lovely.

Oneg: I really need to get a decent synopsis written

Underland: Sounds pretty intriguing to me! I have had the pleasure of reading some and I love it! Your style is so easy and relatable.

Oneg: awww thank you!

Underland: Which brings us to Vocal, if someone were new to your work where would you direct them to get the overall feel of your writing?

Oneg: That's so hard. I started on Vocal with my arctic livin' stories, but now it's become such a mishmash of poetry, flash fics, and personal narratives....

Underland: I love that diversity though!

Oneg: But maybe this- for like right now: breaking-free-flying-free Mostly because it really encompasses all the growth I've gone through in the last few years.

Underland: Oh that was one of the first ones I ever read of yours! Beautiful. I absolutely fell head over heels with your snow micro, there's music out there. The way you captured sound was amazing!

Oneg: Yeah?? I feel like it started off really well and then I kinda stopped loving it as much because maybe it's too straightforward?

Underland: I think its stunning kind of because of its starkness

Oneg: It's both like straightforward but also so... surreal and detached? I

Underland: It really resonated with me for sure! You've always been quite active in the Vocal community and recently set up the Queer Vocal Voices on Facebook, tell us about that! I love the idea BTW!

MC: Hyper bunnies hippity hop

Underland: Sorry…All the questions!

Oneg: Queer Vocal Voices is a much needed, and a long time coming group to empower queer voices and stories. Jim, River, and I had dealt with quite a few instances of faux pas allies both in the Vocalverse, and in our real lives. We realized that the Pride community on Vocal was also really small- and we wanted to change that. We really want to showcase all these amazing queer narratives and show that being part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community is not just about homophobia. Our identities are not just the same old stereotypical traumas you see in the mainstream media. Those traumas matter, and are valid. But we also want to show the rest of the rainbow. We also saw it as a great way to create a safe space for ourselves and our voices, without the constant need to validate "allies" and straight people's ideologies.

Underland: And how is it going so far?

MC: Yes, how loud and strong is the Queer Community's voice now? On vocal?

Oneg: It's going really well! We've got a good group going, with some really great and heartfelt stories emerging. It's also really made us admin reflect on our own stories and identities and how we want to include that more in our writing too. We just dropped our first internal Challenge - write about what pride means to you. And it's really interesting to see the responses.

MC: I can't wait to read the published results

Oneg: Something I really like that we do too, is Pride Picks, where 3 times a week, we choose to feature a piece from the Pride community, or any literature that focuses on queer narratives. It's really special and brings in some critical thinking and reflection.Even if that writer isn't in our group, imagine the validation they could feel when they suddenly see a bunch of reads on their Pride piece

MC: That's such a great idea! I love that you do that! And that is such a great way to support the community!

Underland: That's a really lovely idea and thought x I think there is so much power in sharing stories 😊

MC: What are your hobbies?

Oneg: I love to read and play video games. I'm also very much into cooking, I make amazing food. My wife can confirm this. Like I cook global cuisine, and have wayyyy too many spices (although I don't think there's such a thing as too many)

Underland: What's your favourite thing to eat? Like last day on earth, what are you chowing down on?

Oneg: Honestly? Sashimi. Though I didn't make it. Or mipku- dried caribou meat. I think. I don't know. So much to choose from. Now I'm second and third and fourth guessing myself! Ask me something easier xD

MC: You mentioned once you played games, what's your fave game?

Oneg: I play silly kid games like Neopets xD But I also play games on the nintendo switch with my wife. We like to kick each other's butts in Mario Kart (lol), and try to work together when playing Overcooked. And we had a long stint of playing Stardew Valley as well, but we over-played that.

Underland: What about music? Do you have a favourite artist/band?

Oneg: My favorite band is Apocalyptica. They're a rock metal cellist group from Finland! Pretty random, I know. But I listen to a lot of everything (not country or gospel though). But I really enjoy indie folk, 80s rock, 40s big band jazz, middle eastern classics, and house music. It's a mishmash.

Oneg: Apocalyptica - Till Death Do Us Part #wild

Underland: I like that alot- obviously not listened to it all but it's super cool! So how did you discover them?

Oneg: A friend introduced them to me in high school, and then I just sort of fell in love with their music. It's just so deep and layered. And the skill involved is like incredible. I've seen them in concert I think 4 times, and even flew to Germany to see them once!

Underland: Wow that's dedication! But from the small part I listened to, they have so much skill! Do you play anything?

Oneg: I play on my wife and dog's nerves? Does that count? 🤣 I used to play the clarinet too though haha

Underland: what are you reading on Vocal right now that you're loving?

Oneg: Marked by canines by Jen Parkhill “JP” is a fantastic piece and Emily Long is definitely a creator on my radar - on maps & queerness is beatiful! I'm trying to focus my reading a lot more on queer reads as I feel that it's the support circle I need right now. So much hate is happening all the time. As River had said in one of their pieces, small-revolutions "The good thing about the queer community is we bounce back. Always. The other good thing about the queer community is we throw bricks when provoked."

Underland: Alright out of curiosity...thoughts on Vocal...likes/dislikes....what else would you like to see?

Oneg: Vocal is a great community. But I really think they need to do something new and big as it kind of feels like it's losing a bit of its grab... I really do wish they fixed up their app too. Idk... they need an "it" factor soon. The whole investing thing was beyond lame and desperate. But I really want to see something big emerge.

MC: Quick question, before we go, are there places to go out to eat where you live?

Oneg: We have one little inn that has a small restaurant that's open for lunch! That's it really... lol

MC: So you can have a date night with your wife on occasion. what other forms of recreation is there

Oneg: I can have a date.... lunch xD They don't open to the public in the evenings. Just to the inn guests ...There's an ice rink. Sometimes they do traditional drumming and dancing at the community hall. And that's kind of it lol

MC: Wow, I commend you for giving up what I know you did. That takes dedication to teaching. So movie night is your cooking and netflix that's romantic

Oneg: Pretty much 😛 But we have friends over, and we keep ourselves busy.

Underland: It was so great to get to know you a little bit more 🥰

MC: I enjoyed this so much, Oneg: . One of my favorite people you are

Oneg: It's always a blast chatting with you too- very entertaining, very distracted, 11/10 recommend

MC: And with that, I'll say good bye

Oneg: byeeeeee

Underland: Bye!

We had a great time getting to know our fellow creator, Oneg a little more and we sincerely hope that you enjoyed it too!

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