Cherokee Firedancers start training for upcoming season
 |
| Firedancers and firefighters take a break from their hands-on training to attend class at a recent training in Russellville, Ark. (Photo by Tesina Jackson) |
By Tesina Jackson
Staff writer
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Cherokee Nation Firedancers helped prepare themselves in late May for the approaching wildfire season by attending an annual training at Arkansas Tech University.
“We try to prepare before fire season that way we are ready are to go when the time comes,” Christine Rogers, CN Tribal Employee Rights Office Job and Business coordinator, said.
Rogers, who has been the Firedancers coordinator since January 2008, periodically attends the training where Firedancers take a series of hands-on and classroom leadership courses.
“All firefighters need as much training as they can get,” said 54-year-old Firedancer Bill St. Clair. “Doing bookwork and participating in the hands-on classes allow us to gain more knowledge.”
St. Clair is a citizen of the Cheyenne-Arapaho and Shoshoni tribes but resides in Tahlequah.
The Firedancers are firefighters, employed by the U.S. Forest Service, who fight wildfires across the United States. Employment as a Firedancer is not regular or full-time but strictly on-call and as needed throughout the fire season.
“They are extremely important because they’re putting their life on the line,” Rogers said. “I believe in this program, in the Firedancers. They have a lot of pride in what they do and being able to call themselves Firedancers.”
Those interested must complete an application, be at least 18 years old, a citizen of a federally recognized tribe and must be able to pass a physical exam.
Upon completion of the application process, a pack test is scheduled, which consists of a three-mile hike that must be completed in 45 minutes while wearing a 45-pound weight vest.
“As long as they can pass the physical and the pack test in 45 minutes or less, there are no age restrictions as they get older,” Rogers said.
Henry McClain, a 49-year-old United Keetoowah Band citizen, said he has been a Firedancer for 11 years and even has a son, Ronald Elk, who has joined the ranks. Despite being on the job for more than a decade, it still remains an adventure to him when he gets to go on assignments.
“You meet new people and you get to travel,” he said. “There have been times where I wasn’t available. It was only a few times where my job at the time wouldn’t allow it.”
Whenever Firedancers go on assignment, their meals, lodging and gear are provided. When on assignment, Firedancers go out for 14 days with a guaranteed eight hours per day and a starting pay of $17.08 per hour.
They receive assignments whenever the Forest Service calls the TERO for firefighting reinforcements, checking to see if any of the 40 to 45 Firedancers are available or would be available. Calls are put out to the firefighters and crews are put together at the TERO in Tahlequah. They then travel to their destination by bus or by plane.