Canadian army invading KI First Nation territory as part of "exercises" for soldiers and rangers
The army is sending a company of soldiers into KI territory next week along with teams of Canadian Rangers from the north. As well, even more soldiers and equipment will get to travel to California for other exercises. These recruitment and exploration strategies continue to encourage young people from poor regions across Canada to leave their communities creating a hope for something different for recruits. At least the army does not seem to be short of money as the rest of the country's economy continues its downward slide.
Polar Warrior "exercise"
Kitchenumaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I), Ontario
Exercise Polar Warrior will see a Company Group of more than 100 soldiers deploy to Kitchenumaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I), Ontario, for the first week of March 2009. Led by the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, the Company Group will include three platoons of soldiers from across 32 Canadian Brigade Group and be supported by a team of the Canadian Rangers of 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.
These troops will work closely with the Canadian Rangers, who will teach and guide them in the intricacies of living off the land. Their itinerary includes a range day, building survival shelters, traditional food preparation, ice fishing, ice rescue and a community day with the local population. The training is a preliminary step in the establishment of the Arctic Response Company, a sub-unit assigned to the Grey and Simcoe Foresters that can be used on future operations.
The remote location of K.I. will require that the soldiers and their supplies be flown into the community. A chartered Hercules aircraft and three passenger planes will fly in the soldiers on Saturday 28 February and return them on Saturday 07 March. The primary mode of transport in K.I. will be by snowmobile.