Archana Cini
Lookout Newspaper

  • The Raven Program returned to CFB Esquimalt this summer, blending Indigenous cultural teachings with naval-focused Basic Military Qualification (BMQ)M training. 
  • Highlights included a Confidence Course at Camp Albert Head, a live-fire range day in Nanaimo, and a formal graduation ceremony at HMCS Venture. 
  • Beyond skills, Raven fostered lasting meaning, offering participants cultural enrichment and graduates with potential pathways to CAF careers. 

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The Raven Program is one of five Indigenous summer programs offered annually by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A six-week summer Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course designed specifically for Indigenous participants from across Canada, Raven blends Indigenous cultural teachings with naval-focused military training.

The 2025 iteration of the Raven Indigenous Summer Program included a Confidence Course. Held at Camp Albert Head, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt on July 31, the outdoor course challenged program participants to successfully scale walls, navigate rope bridges, complete net climbs, and more. Notably, Raven is not designated as a youth program — rather, it is open to Indigenous people of all ages eligible to join the CAF (16- 57). This year, Raven saw participants learning and connecting with traditional Indigenous values and teachings; learning defence skills during the BMQ course; and spending a day aboard a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) vessel to boost military knowledge and experience life at sea. Students were also taught weapons handling, navigation, first-aid, flood containment, firefighting, and more.

To Master Sailor (MS) Henry McDavid, Naval Combat Information Operator and Raven instructor, the program also provides participants with a wealth of valuable insights beyond military skills.

“Everyone has that little voice in the back of their head filled with fears of ‘what if,’” said McDavid. “But you will learn on this course that your fear of failure is stopping you before you even begin, and that you are capable of more than you ever thought you would be.”

Just days after the Confidence Course, on Aug 6, the group travelled to the Nanaimo Range for a live-fire range day.

The Raven Program officially concluded on Aug 18 following a formal graduation ceremony held at CFB Esquimalt.

Reflecting on the 2025 iteration of the course, MS McDavid shared, “I am confident that each of the graduates walked away with a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the nuances of teamwork and leadership. Even more importantly, they walked away with knowledge on how that can apply those skills not just to the military, but also everyday life.”

Over the years, Raven has become a cornerstone of the CAF’s Indigenous programs by offering people from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities a unique introduction to military life while honouring their cultural identities. As such, the graduation ceremony also included the receipt of sashes for Métis program graduates from members of the Métis Nation, songs sung by Indigenous community members, and the presence of an Indigenous carving standing watch over the ceremony. Following graduation, Raven also provides program graduates with high school credit and the opportunity for a future career with the CAF. As participants return home, the Raven program remains a testament to the strength that blooms when tradition and service walk side by side.

To Master Sailor (MS) Carmen Pham, Material Management Technician and Raven instructor, the program’s significance lasts well beyond graduation.

“The true impact of Raven is clear when previous candidates reach back out. Sometimes for operational support, career guidance, or even help navigating civilian life,” she said. “These are the connections that prove Raven is more than a course. Rather, it’s a network of lasting change.”