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Teara Fraser First Indigenous Woman in Canada to Start Own Airline

Tuesday, 25 September 2018 13:08

Iskwew Airport will start operations at Vancouver International Airport, which lies on Musquem Traditional Territory.

Her airline company, called Iskwew Air, will commence next March.

Teara Fraser is the first Indigenous women to own an airline in Canada.

Fraser is of Métis descent and originally called Northwest Territories home.

Her new airline, called Iskwew Air, will be based out Vancouver International Airport and will commence March 8th, 2019.

The plan for the venture is to conduct charters to First Nations and remote communities and even bring international tourism to certain places to showcase First Nations culture.

Fraser told Chon News about the official start of the First Nations airline.

"We're at the very beginning of this journey. Just on Friday, September 21st, we sought the blessing and permission from the Musquem People before operating on their traditional territory. It was so important for us to seek the blessing at the beginning stages before business moved ahead to ensure Iskwew Air started operations in a really good way."

The Vancouver International airport lies within the traditional territory of the Musquem First Nation in Southwestern British Columbia.

Fraser also told us the values and visions Iskwew Air hold moving forward.

"The vision of Iskwew Air is connecting people with each other and to the land. The values that are going to guide Iskwew Air are love and adventure, the warrior of spirit and reclamation and reciprocity."

Iskwew is a Cree word for woman and her vision is to have a full fleet that specifically provides charter services.

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