Nunavut firefighters aim for Aboriginal Firefighters Association Competition

Twenty firefighters from communities across Nunavut are in Iqaluit this week, vying for a spot at the annual national Aboriginal Firefighters Association Competition.

For the trials, the firefighters wear fire suits and helmets. Organized in groups of five, they're asked to perform drills where they roll and unroll fire hoses and spray targets with a water stream. It's all part of their job of saving lives, but this week it's also about making the team. Only eight will head to the national competition in Rama, Ontario on August 15.  

"In the fire service it's about teamwork and working together all the time," says Jerry Anilniliak, the Fire Marshall Trainee. "That really shows at the nationals."

For young firefighters, the competition is a chance to learn new skills.

"Learning more stuff about firefighting," is the main goal, says Mark Tigumiar a firefighter from Naujaat who's only been on the job for six months. He says he wants to know more "about what to do and what not to do."

For other firefighters these games are an opportunity to live out childhood dreams.  

"When I was a little kid I just loved firefighters, just the way I am I guess," says Kyle Amautinuar, a firefighter from Kugaaruk. "Like watching them how the firefighters go into a burning building and save other people's lives and try to save their houses and what not."

It's all fun and games now, but what these guys learn for the competition today could help save lives tomorrow.

"I want to help community, I want to help people," says Jolie Enoogoo, a firefighter from Pond Inlet, who has been a member of the Nunavut team for the past four years. Enoogoo even holds a record for using the breathing apparatus at the nationals: his time is 37 seconds.  

The team hopes for gold in Ontario, but there is one prize that they are almost guaranteed to win. For the past seven out of nine years, Nunavut took home the prize for the most sportsmanlike team. It's quite the feat for a group that only has one week to learn to work together.