Tales from the Station

Long Strange Trip

 


I’ve been in the fire department for fifteen years and more than likely I’ll be in for fifteen more. There is nothing that says Akwesasne more than our fire department with it’s three stations located in Hogansburg, New York, Kawehnoke, Ontario and Tsi Snaihne, Quebec. We don’t recognize any borders and we will respond anywhere in Akwesasne. It is an amazing organization that started from such humble beginnings it is hard to believe what a premiere organization we are today.

With sixty-five members we are now a large department with sixteen pieces of equipment that allow us to put out fires, conduct searches, water operations and any emergency that might come our way. We have evolved and are continually evolving to be the fire department that other fire departments strive to be. We did not do this on our own, we are supported by the hard work of our members past and present, the community, the governments, agencies, businesses and most importantly our spouses and families.

For those who don’t know it, Dad was a member of the fire department for thirty three years. One of the proudest moments of his life was being pictured with his two boys and his brother in full dress uniform for an appreciation ceremony at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena. Dad was sent off with full fire department honors in one of the most touching displays of camaraderie I had ever witnessed.

I have written humorous stories of being in the fire department. The truth is we do have bad moments, moments that haunt us for the rest of our lives. We are a strong, emotionally stable group of people that can count on each other in good times, bad times and, even, funny times right to the end. You can leave the fire department but the fire department will never leave you. It is the toughest job you will ever love and that is as much as I will dwell on that.

I’ve been writing this column for nine months and I hope you had an enjoyable insight into the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department. I was selected last year to be a New York State Fire Instructor for Franklin County. I have taught some small courses and helped out with a big course held this spring. It is now my turn to be the lead instructor for the Recruit Firefighter training course that started September 4th and will continue into December. Right now I do not have the time to continue the column and I will be going into semi-retirement.

I appreciate all of you who have commented on the column and voiced your support for my writing. I wish to thank the Indian Time Newspaper for showcasing my columns and supporting my efforts to be an aspiring writer. Shannon, Mark, Debbie, Helen, Mamie, Jasmine, Stazia, Joe, Bruce, and all the rest of the people who bring us the news and stories week after week are a great bunch and it’s been a pleasure working with them. I worked there at just the right time to be included in the 25th anniversary issue and I’ll always have that to reflect upon.

I’ll take my leave now and maybe sometime in the future I will come up with some other stories to share and hopefully, entertain you. I’m leaving a void in the paper and I hope someone else has stories to share about working iron, life on the river or the pow wow highway. Take a chance, you will never know if your stories are entertaining unless you share them. Be safe and support your local fire service, the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department and your local paper, The Indian Time.

Take care,

Adrian McDonald

 

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