Women on the rise at First Nations emergency preparedness boot camp

Indigenous and non-Indigenous women are being trained as front line responders at this weeks First Nations Emergency Services Society boot camp.

When natural disaster strikes in British Columbia, more women, specifically First Nations women are expected to be on the front lines providing help. At least that’s what this weeks First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) boot camp has shown.

People have come from across the province to attend the emergency preparedness boot camp and a lot of them are women.

They’re tackling everything from learning about driving emergency vehicles to trailers, tiger dam and planning for the upcoming flood and wildfire seasons.

Many natural disasters happen on First Nations territory and the hope is that this boot camp will give community members the knowledge and tools to save their own land and people.

FNESS knows how important it is to respond to communities in a timely manner — they service 204 Nations across B.C. and need to be prepared for anything.

“We have a great crew, we started with 20 some people last year and we are up to 50-plus staff, and almost half are Indigenous women,” said boot camp participant Crystal Camille.

“It’s exciting,” adds Trudy Peterson, another boot camp participant. “You don’t see a lot of women but you’re starting to see more and more both in firefighting and response and they’re great at taking roles in leadership and planning and coordinating.”