Anishinabe Women in Fire Training

Riding Mountain National Park

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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.

In September 2023, 15 female members from the Coalition of First Nations with Interests in Riding Mountain National Park were trained as Type 2 firefighters in the Basic Wildland Fire Course. The goals were to improve job opportunities for the women and to increase the capacity, knowledge, and skills of the participants.

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