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First Canadian airline to be founded by an Indigenous woman takes off

Iskwew Air CEO Teara Fraser also announces youth program on International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day
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Teara Fraser, CEO of Iskwew Air. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

Canada香蕉视频直播檚 first airline to be founded and owned by an Indigenous woman is all clear for takeoff.

Iskwew Air, located out of Vancouver International Airport香蕉视频直播檚 south terminal, officially launched on Friday, in honour of International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day.

CEO Teara Fraser and her eight-seat Piper Navajo will provide charter flights between the Lower Mainland and smaller communities that don香蕉视频直播檛 have access to frequent airline service.

Since the beginning, Fraser香蕉视频直播檚 goal has been to use her airline to bolster Indigenous tourism and empower women in aviation 香蕉视频直播 starting with her company香蕉视频直播檚 name, Iskwew (pronounced iss-KWAY-oh), which is the Cree word for woman.

香蕉视频直播淚ndigenous women have been matriarchs, leaders, knowledge keepers, strategists, healers, and sophisticated entrepreneurs since time immemorial,香蕉视频直播 said Fraser, who is Metis, in a news release.

香蕉视频直播淏y including and amplifying these important and powerful voices, we can see a whole new future full of innovation, strength and economic prosperity.香蕉视频直播

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During Friday香蕉视频直播檚 launch, Fraser also announced an initiative to inspire Indigenous youth to explore a career in aviation.

Through events around the province, the Give Them Wings program will give youth and their families the opportunity to learn more about aviation and what it takes to be a pilot.

BC Aviation Council chair Heather Bell said encouraging and recruiting young people is a key piece to reversing 香蕉视频直播渁 looming human resource shortage香蕉视频直播 in the industry.

香蕉视频直播淭here is potential for this shortage to have significant impacts on Indigenous communities, should commercial providers find themselves unable to service remote and northern routes,香蕉视频直播 she said. 香蕉视频直播淭he need is real, the time is now. It is vital that programs like Give Them Wings exist.香蕉视频直播



About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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