When two Rebeccas become one, it’s an Amazing Race

“We knew how to communicate. That was honestly one of our biggest strengths, and like you said, we’re morphing into one,” Merasty said.

They could anticipate their partner’s move and understand what would frustrate them ahead of time.

The two Rebeccas met each other after both going to a casting call for an Indigenous fashion show in Calgary in 2016. They were both waiting to be called when the name Rebecca came up and both responded. They hit it off and have been friends ever since, both now living in Vancouver.

“It’s honestly odd, I think we’re king of morphing into one Rebecca,” said Watt, with Merasty instantly agreeing with her assessment.

“Yeah, the ultimate Rebecca. I’ll say something, and then Rebecca will look at me and say, I was just going say that or we’ll make the same noises sometimes. It’s like were just on the same wavelength honestly, and that just how close we’ve gotten over the last few years.”

As a youth, Merasty spent a lot of time going to school and competing in sports in Meadow Lake and graduated there as well.

“I give thanks to all the coaches that I had in Meadow Lake,” she said. Her dad and extended family and other very good friends are still there and will meet Watt this summer as they plan a joint trip.

Watt spent her early years in the Northwest Territories before moving to High Level while she was in middle school and graduated there.

As one of three teams featuring Indigenous people, both women were glad to also take on the job of role model.

“I think it’s a major, major motivation for us going into this competition – to know that we come from small communities that need representation, even just in terms of Indigenous representation and mainstream media,” Merasty said.

They were told that they are the first all female Indigenous team to be on the Amazing Race Canada.

“Those are very huge shoes to fill and we’re honestly both very proud to be that,” Watt said.

They both felt that lack of strong female role models that they could identify with as young girls, they said. Both said that growing up as free-spirited children, raised on the land and running through the bush helped them not be afraid to take risks.

“If we’re gonna do something, we’re gonna go into it and we’re going to try our best. I think that coming from where we come from, that helped a lot,” Merasty said.

Both had to overcome personal challenges in order to complete the tasks given to them in order to advance.

Pushing forward despite fear or other things holding them back is advice both women want to pass on to all the little girls watching them, starting on Tuesday, July 8 on CTV.

“I would say just go for it. Life is scary and life can seem so scary, especially when you’re confnined to your little community,” Merasty said.

“But I think in terms of, just take the risk, move to that next town, accept that job. It’s a yes to that friend, say yes to that opportunity.”

Both Rebeccas independently grew up in small remote communities and said that taking those same risks has paid off.

“In life, both professionally, personally and just in every aspect. I think the biggest thing is just take that chance. I truly believe that if you can dream it, you can do it.”

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social

by Susan McNeil

When two Rebeccas become one, it’s an Amazing Race

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