New Paramedics Ready to Hit the Road in Kahnawake

There are about to be eight new certified paramedics on the road in Kahnawake. The trainees just completed a year and a half long training course. The first ever held in Kahnawake and taught by local instructors.

“We had to do what was needed for our community. Do what is best for our people,” said Tanner Phillips, the Quality Assurance and Medical Instructor at the Kahnawake Fire Brigade (KFB). “Give our own course and develop it and say ‘this is our community and we have to take care of our people,’ It’s an accomplishment for the Fire Brigade but it’s also an accomplishment for the community. We did what we needed to do for our people.”  

One of those new paramedics is Zoe McGregor. The 26 year old is following in the footsteps of her family. “My mother is a paramedic and that sparked my interest,” McGregor said. “I’ve always been involved with the Fire Brigade. It’s that now there was actually a program available to actually take part in because they weren’t actually taking any students from the New York State program.”

Her mother is Cheryl Montour. She has been with the KFB since 2006.

McGregor will be one of the new graduates who will be saving lives and serving their community as of the end of this month. “It’s exciting and little frightening because you’re dealing with people’s lives,” McGregor said. “It’s not fun and games anymore, it’s serious. It’s always been serious, it’s just that now you’re in charge, you’re responsible for this person. Whereas, being a student you are responsible but if you make the wrong decision you have someone there guiding you. It’s nerve wracking because now it’s you and your partner.”

Now that she is certified as a Paramedic, McGregor also wants to also train to become a firefighter.

Congratulations to all the course graduates. Along with Zoe McGregor, they are: Heather McGregor, Walter Whitebean, Ashlan Phillips, Roseann Rice, Cheryl Zacharie, Shakoiatenhawitha Cross Jacobs, and Teiakowisatenion Stacey.