Louisa-Pearl Einish-Shecanapish cried tears of joy as she huddled with six other firefighters on Saturday during the award ceremony for the Quebec Aboriginal Firefighters Competition in Listuguj, over 500 kilometers northeast of Quebec City.
The team of seven women from the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach came in second, just behind Kahnawà:ke firefighters, after competing in the obstacle and fitness event.
“That’s still a win for us. It felt like first place,” said Einish-Shecanapish.
“It was a lot of emotions, because for me it’s a very good, new experience to do something like this,” she said. “Especially for my kids: They can look up to
