A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Six Nation and Kashechewan competing against each other during the 2018 Fire Fighters Competition.
Each of the four teams setting up for the competition.
Six Nations placed first in the 2018 Fire Fighters Competition.
(L to R) HAVFD President Derek Comins, Siva Appiah, Indigenous Services Canada and Matthew Miller, Six Nations Fire and Emergency Services Fire Chief. Appiah holds the housing portfolio and which includes fire protection.
Akwesasne was host to the 31st Annual Ontario Native Fire Fighters Society Conference & Competition, which took place at the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort. It has been 30 years since the competition has been held in Akwesasne. It is safe to say it was a successful turnout; it was one of the most attended and largest in the last 15 years. The conference consisted of three days of firefighter and fire prevention hands-on training sessions and in-class training sessions. Matthew Miller, president - Ontario Fire Fighter Society stated "Our goal is to keep growing every year to become the largest First Nation Firefighter Conference in Canada. Congratulations to all of the First Nations who entered a team in this year's firefighter competition. Thank you to The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino & Resort and the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department for all of your help and Indigenous Services Canada for their continued support."
There were four teams entered into the firefighter competition, which consisted of 6 different evolutions. The first place team will go on to represent the province of Ontario at the 2018 National Aboriginal Firefighter Competition, which will take place in Dauphin, Manitoba. Akwesasne was not able to enter a team into the competition, due to work schedule conflicts. The four different teams who were entered into the competition were from Six Nation, Kashechewan, Chippewa of the Thames and Garden River. The team to place first was Six Nations Fire & Emergency Services.
Derek Comins, board member, stated, "It was an honor to host the 31st Annual Ontario Native Fire Fighter Society Conference & Competition. Although we weren't able to enter a team into the competition, our members were able to attend the conference when they were able. I also want to thank the HAVFD for cleaning and preparing, the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino staff, and everyone that attended and thank you to the Fire Society."
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