Marnie Hunter is a barrier basher.
The attractive, 36-year-old indigenous woman originally from Peawanuck on the Hudson Bay coast has been a drill operator in the Hollinger open pit mine in Timmins for four years. For two years before that, she was a labourer and drove a 150-ton ore truck.
“I’ve always took it upon myself to challenge myself,” she says with great confidence. “If a man can do it, then I can do it as well.”
(Bob McIntyre, MyTimminsNow.com Staff)
Hunter’s drill partner is also a woman. They’re not the first, but she says several more women have started in the pit since she did. She says women should encourage each other to go into the trades.
“And I’ve always said to other, especially aboriginal youth, like if a man can do it, a woman can do it as well. And I encourage that.”
Hunter has also done more traditionally female jobs, like practical nurse, cook and social worker. Now that she has discovered mining, she thinks that’s where her future is.
“I wouldn’t mind going into a different kind of work,” she muses. “Maybe drill blast foreman or something where I could demolish something (laughs). Something to challenge myself mentally, physically and really get up there.”
Hunter says being a woman is never an issue.