'It's time,' says 1st Indigenous woman in Canada to start an airline on her own

It's not every day youbecome the firstIndigenous womanin Canada to startan airline from scratch, all on your own.

"Even today it's hard to imagine that I am launching an airline," said Teara Fraser,who was bornin remote Hay Riverin the Northwest Territoriesand plans to fly her airline to hard-to-reach Indigenous communities.

Fraser is not the first Indigenous woman in Canada to ownan airline.Laverna Martel-Harvey, also from Hay River, N.W.Tpurchased the then38-year oldWolverine Air, in 2010. She is also now thepart-owner ofSouth NahanniAirways andWolverine Air Ltd.

"I've got to give it her all, [starting an airline from scratch] is a big process andit'sacostlyprocess,"Martel-Harvey said. "I am pretty proud, she is an Indigenous ladyfrom the territories, and if we can do it, anyone can," she added

On Friday, Fraser announced the start ofIskwewAir, based at Vancouver International Airport, which she says will start flights next March.

Fraser, 47, is Mtiswhose family is from Fort Chipewyan, Alta. She raised her two adult children in Metro Vancouver.

Apilot for 15 years, she previously flew for Hawkair, a Terrace-based regional airline, flying totowns such asMassetand Prince Rupert.She's also owned her own businesses, includingKsikAerial Survey.

The name,Iskwew, is aCree word for woman, and Fraser wants it toto eventually be knownfor itsIndigenous focus.

Humble startwithbig vision

For now, Fraser hasjust one cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft, but sheenvisions a full fleet that will specifically provide charter services.

Theplane received ablessing Friday fromelders fromMusqueam, whose territory the Vancouver International airport is on.

"When I close my eyes I see flight attendants, a busy ramp, I see connecting people to the land," Fraser said.

Her idea to build an Indigenous airline from scratch came during the 2010 winter Olympics when tourists from all over the world came to Vancouver.

Many wanted a first-hand look at First Nations communities in B.C.

"There was a vision to connect those international travellers to Indigenous communities and showcase B.C.'s First Nations," she said.

But there were few airlines with the capability to travel to remote communities.

"When they identified a barrier, I thought that was a way I could support Indigenous tourism," she added.

Boost to women in aviation

Heather Bell,chair of the British Columbia Aviation Council, has been in the industry for 35 years and said it's nice to see a female entering the male-dominatedfield.

"It's great to see an Indigenous woman making this kind of statement, it's fabulous and I'm very excited," said Bell.

"There are woman that have been in high levels in the aviation industry, but even that is very rare," Bell said.

Remote communities tobe focus of airline

Fraserwants to break barriers that have kept women and Indigenous people away from aviation, but she said there is is shortage of pilots, especially those willing to fly to small, remote areas.

"We are facing a global, national and local pilot shortage that is worsening and I am worried about those fly-in communities," she said.

"I worry that those services won't be available to remote communities that depend on services for basic needs," she added.

Fraser was born in Hay River, N.W.T.and her Mtisfamilycomes from Fort Chipewyan, Alta., a fly-in only community.

"We havejusta winter road and the only way to get there is by boat or by plane," said Jumbo Fraser, Teara'scousinwho camefrom Fort Chipewyan to witness the blessing.

'It's time'

Teara's daughter,KianaAlexander, an Iskwewteam leader, said she's most excited about the Indigenous focus of the airline.

"Reclaiming language and matriarchal ways of being in a non-traditional field like aviation is powerful,"Alexander said.

The plane will be ready to provide charter services out of the South Terminal at Vancouver Airport on International Women's Day on March 8, 2019.

"It's time," said Fraser.

"Time to show the world what is possible."

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