The Naskapi firefighters: all fire, all flame

Almost a week before leaving for Kahnawake, where the 31^e annual contest of the native firefighters of Quebec, they are all reunited with their trainer.

After having swallowed a piece of pizza, they will go, in the rain, to repeat once again gestures that they now know by heart, but that they must perform very quickly to hope to win.

Many of them, 21 days ago, didn’t even know what a hose was, how to put on a firefighter’s suit, how to spray water with precision or how to connect hoses.

William Moffat, this Mi’kmaw from Listuguj, whom everyone calls Billy, said he was impressed by his proteges. Above all, he trusts them, despite their lack of experience.

Because this is not the first time that he has led rookies , as he says. He had then succeeded in making them win the regional competition and take them to the second step of the podium during the national competition.

These women, they have a background that is their strength today. Many have experienced violence, have fallen into consumption, have experienced a lot of negative things. There they do something positive and I see smiles on their facessays this former firefighter, putting on a pink jersey with the team logo.

” This reinforces their sense of belonging, allows them to affirm their identity as Aboriginal women. “

Melissa Peastitute has been a firefighter for barely a month. She is the first to arrive at the meeting, which is being held on Friday, at the barracks of the Kawawachikamach community, more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of Montreal.

It allows me to stay active, to move, she explains. Her teammate, Marina Uniam Losier is one of the oldest. She has been a firefighter since 2013. Laughing, she replies to Melissa that she herself has lost a lot of weight since the start of training.

I like teamwork, it’s empowering and it allows us to live a new experienceadds Louise Schecanapish.

For all aboriginal women

All are very proud to be the only female team in the competition and are unimpressed by their future male competitors. Neither will William Moffat. Guys mainly use muscle and speed. Women are more technical and efficienthe said.

What’s more, the Naskapis have a reputation for being tough. Every time we participate, we winlaunches Marina, pointing to the corner in which the cups are displayed at the barracks.

Beyond mere competition, these women have become, at least in the heart of their coach, the standard bearer for Indigenous women across the country.

They have been told so many times that they are incapable…deplores William Moffat who began his career as a firefighter in Lac-Barrière, a hundred kilometers from Val-d’Or.

Quickly, the rest of the team joined Louise, Melissa and Marina. Indiana André confides that she does a lot of fitness and that she likes to move a lot. Participating in this competition seems like a no-brainer for her.

To be able to go to Kahnawake, funds had to be found. Everyone knows the exorbitant cost of a plane ticket to get from Kawawachikamach to Montreal. Fundraising, search for sponsors and donations, the girls were able to count on the support of the community.

Often, members can see them unrolling hoses, fire helmets screwed on their heads, on the streets of Kawawa.

We sacrifice a lotsays Louise, when asked about these daily workouts.

Marina even says that one day, they trained three times for two hours to prepare well. Because William Moffat knows it: if they have their chance, they will still have to be wary of a team whose name he will not give.

If they win this competition, they will be able to defend the colors of Kawawachikamach during the national competition to be held in July.

The important thing is not that they win. And if it’s not this year, it will be next year. And it won’t be just for Naskapis, but for Indigenous women across the country. concludes William Moffat.