Transcript
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Anishinabe Women in Fire Training
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In September 2023, 15 female members from the
Coalition of First Nations with Interests in
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Riding Mountain National Park were trained as
Type 2 firefighters in the Basic Wildland Fire Course.
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The goals were to improve job opportunities for the
women and to increase the capacity, knowledge,
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and skills of the participants.
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Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba
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Women of different ages from Sandy Bay, Keeseekoowenin,
and Waywayseecappo First Nations took part.
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Melanie Robinson, Assistant Fire Management Officer
Riding Mountain National Park
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So you can’t see my face
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This training assists in removing barriers still in place for
women and girls. The women felt empowered.
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Jordana, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation
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I've never heard of a course where
it was just like strictly women.
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And I thought,
this is a great opportunity.
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And being here is kind of like
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feels empowering.
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Sarah, Waywayseecappo First Nation
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I feel like more women should be motivated
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and inspired to go out into the workforces
that are mostly male dominated,
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not to be intimidated that you have
just as much to offer as anybody else,
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and that women
are very supportive of each other as well.
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And I don't think that there would be
discrimination because of your gender.
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Clay Bergeson, Fire Technician
Riding Mountain National Park
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Kateri, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation
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I'm actually a climate change coordinator.
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And when I looked it up, it said “Wildland”.
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And I kind of like being outside a lot.
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That's what my career is about.
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The team of people that do this job
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have it's a really related
to climate change.
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So this is actually going
to fit into my work.
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Also.
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And I can actually be a part
of the firefighting crew as well.
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Heaven, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation
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There's very limited options in Sandy Bay.
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So when I saw this opportunity,
I instantly signed up,
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hope that I got picked and I did
and was like really grateful for it.
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It's an amazing opportunity.
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Loving it so far, feels good to finally
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be something
you kind of like, looked up to as well.
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And like, this line of work,
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Honestly, I can really, like,
put it into words, it's like ecstatic,
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especially when it's indigenous women
coming together and
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it's honestly really amazing.
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The women are now able to assist their communities
in the event of a fire.