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Guardians of the North

is a documentary television series that follows wildland firefighters in Saskatchewan’s Indigenous and northern communities. The team sees themselves as Guardians, not just of human life, personal property, and natural resources, but also of traditional communities, hunting grounds, and a way of life.

Guardians of the North features personnel from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), Muskoday First Nations Fire Department and Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management (FNEM) as they train for and battle wildfires on the ground and from the air during the summer of 2022. The MCCAFE wildfire near Stanley Mission, which burnt more than 12,000 hectares, is featured in the first season of the series.

SEASON TWO:

Episode 1. Be Prepared

While Avery tries to prove he still has what it takes to fight forest fires, the Emergency Response Team carries out a training exercise involving a missing hiker and kayaker.

Episode 2. Crazy May

Aggressive spring fires force the evacuation of La Loche and several northern communities in what quickly becomes Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.

Episode 3. Battle for Besnard

Crews in La Ronge try to save a fishing lodge and collection of cabins on Besnard Lake and a mysterious wildfire to the east forces a thousand residents to flee to safety.

Episode 4. Smoked In

As crews face dangerous conditions on the massive Wistigo blaze, an investigation team looks for the cause of the mysterious wildfire that threatened a nearby community.

Episode 5. Stepping Up

Julian is thrown into a challenging new role overseeing operations on a massive wildfire and the Emergency Response Team races against time to find a missing boater.

Episode 6. Dry Lighting

Unpredictable weather spawns a series of late season wildfires and Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management plans for next year by training new firefighters.

SEASON ONE:

Episode 1: Spring Training

With wildfire season looming, new recruit Aidan begins training with the ground crew at the fire base, while rookie Travis learns how to fight forest fires from the air.

Episode 2: Fire Season Begins

Warm dry weather has spawned the season’s first wildfires, and rookie Aidan gets his first taste of danger. For new recruit Travis, his air attack training is put to the test over the season’s first big fire.

Episode 3: Community Under Threat

A wildfire threatens to trap residents of Stanley Mission. Crews on the ground and in the air must work together to protect the community.

Episode 4: Fighting Fire With Fire

To save the community of Stanley Mission, crews decide to fight fire with fire. If this strategy doesn’t work, the town could be lost.

Episode 5: Part of the Team

While crews in La Ronge struggle with one of the last big fires of the season, Michelle is surprised by an unexpected new recruit at the Muskoday First Nation Fire Department.

Episode 6: Fall Challenges

As fire season winds down, Mackenzie tries to fulfill her dream of achieving national certification as an air attack officer while firefighters from Muskoday enter the First Nation Regional Firefighting competition.

Episodes

Featured Guardians

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Located in Prince Albert, on the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Urban Reserve, Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management (SFNEM) provides search and rescue, recovery, and firefighting training to First Nation communities across the province. They also assist in setting up Emergency Operation Centres and play a role in protecting and evacuating First Nation communities threatened by forest fires and flooding. Managed on a day-to-day basis by Michelle Vandevord, the team at SFNEM is deeply committed to bolstering First Nation emergency response, building up local fire departments, and protecting traditional First Nation communities, forests, and ways of life. Their offices are located in a former residential school and the legacy of the past is with them daily. Spirituality is an important part of their work, and they regularly hold smudging ceremonies to honour the history around them and to help protect their team as they head out into field. They work closely with the Muskoday First Nation Fire Department, located nearby, where Michelle is also a volunteer Captain.

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When the Muskoday First Nation Fire Department was first established in 1984, it had nothing more than a one ton truck and a water tank. Thanks to the dedication of its volunteers, and the support of the community, it now has a modern fire station, three fire engines, ATVs, boats, side sonar, and extrication equipment. It is a role model for other First Nation fire departments. Led by volunteer Fire Chief Troy Bear, and volunteer Captain Michelle Vandevord, the fire department today has over twenty members and responds to structure fires, grass fires, car accidents, and medical emergencies around Muskoday First Nation. With Michelle being both a local Captain, as well as a leader at nearby Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management, the fire department often assists in emergencies throughout the province.

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The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is a Treasury Board Crown Agency responsible for provincial emergency management, fire safety and wildfire management in our province and managing Saskatchewan's 911 emergency dispatching services.
Their mission is to safeguard and protect the people, property and resources of Saskatchewan through partnerships, coordinated planning, education, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. SPSA staff work according to their values of accountability, collaboration, excellence, innovation and service.