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Always a positive experience
Fort Smith's Brenda Johnson has served as a Canadian Ranger for more than 20 years

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2014

THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Brenda Johnson of Fort Smith has been a member of the Canadian Rangers for more than 20 years.

NNSL photo/graphic

Brenda Johnson is sergeant of the Fort Smith Patrol of the Canadian Rangers. - photo courtesy of Capt. Steve Watton, Canadian Rangers

She joined in 1993, just two years after a Canadian Rangers patrol was formed in the community.

"I am actually surprised how much time has passed since I joined," she said. "It must have been enjoyable, otherwise I would not still be involved. It sure doesn't seem that long, though."

She was originally asked to join because she liked outdoor activities.

"And I think some of the Rangers were looking for cooks," she recalled. "At the time, I thought it may be interesting to try something new."

Johnson, 51, who is originally from Cold Lake, Alta., is now sergeant of the patrol.

"We are the eyes and ears of the North," she explained. "The purpose of our patrols is to exercise sovereignty in our area of responsibility (AOR). Each patrol/exercise must have an achievable mission when we do one. We do this in order to become familiar with our go/no-go areas, know where our communication black-out areas are, to confirm passability of our waterways and land terrain, and report any illegal or suspicious activity."

The Fort Smith Patrol has never actually spotted anything suspicious.

As sergeant, a rank she has held since about 2002 after serving as a master corporal, Johnson's job is to make sure the Fort Smith Patrol can provide positive support and participate in activities when called upon by the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group - which covers the North.

"We need to be self-sufficient and know our AOR," she said.

There are currently 19 members of the Fort Smith Patrol, the majority of them Dene and Metis.

Seven of the members are female.

"Overall, females have become much more accepted into patrols and furthermore into leadership roles in the patrol," noted Johnson, who in her regular job is store manager at Freund Building Supplies Ltd.

"I truly enjoy the program," she said.

"Fort Smith has a great group of Rangers, I've learned a lot from many of them over the years."

She has also had the opportunity to travel around the three territories at least once while participating in various operations and leadership training.

"I have always had a positive experience," she said. "For that, I am thankful."

Johnson likes what the Canadian Ranger program stands for.

"I enjoy the opportunities of learning on-the-land skills and survival skills, and becoming familiar with our area of responsibility," she said. "The fact that we get to meet and interact with other Rangers and instructors is a bonus."

Firearm safety is also a huge part of the training.

The Fort Smith Canadian Rangers try to participate in at least three patrols a year - a 10-day training session with an instructor from the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group in Yellowknife, and two three-to-six-day patrols involving four to eight Rangers.

It can be time consuming when planning for sovereignty patrols, the annual exercise or just monthly activities in the community, said Johnson. "It can also become frustrating when few show up to participate after the time has been spent to set up activities."

The patrol's area of responsibility is a 300-km radius around Fort Smith, said Johnson, noting the patrol is considerably limited where it can travel because it borders Wood Buffalo National Park.

The official role of a Canadian Ranger is to provide a military presence in isolated, northern and coastal regions of Canada which cannot practically or economically be covered by other elements of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Many patrols play a large role in search and rescue in their communities due to the isolation factor and their skills and knowledge of the land, assist Canadian Forces units training in the North, and even provide support to scientists, researchers and various community activities.

"I believe we bring huge benefits to our Canadian government/military in the form of traditional knowledge, durability and manpower," said Johnson. "I also like the red uniform."

Canadian Rangers wear a distinctive red hoodie emblazoned with the organization's crest.

Johnson said the red uniform is one of the things that encourages comradeship among all Canadian Rangers.

"When I travel and come across someone in the red Ranger hoodie, there are no barriers that keep you from introducing yourself to a fellow Ranger," she said. "You are like family, no matter where you come from."

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