Canada鈥檚 first airline to be founded and owned by an Indigenous woman is all clear for takeoff.

Iskwew Air, located out of Vancouver International Airport鈥檚 south terminal, officially launched on Friday, in honour of International Women鈥檚 Day.

CEO Teara Fraser and her eight-seat Piper Navajo will provide charter flights between the Lower Mainland and smaller communities that don鈥檛 have access to frequent airline service.

Since the beginning, Fraser鈥檚 goal has been to use her airline to bolster Indigenous tourism and empower women in aviation 鈥� starting with her company鈥檚 name, Iskwew (pronounced iss-KWAY-oh), which is the Cree word for woman.

HAPPENING NOW! is officially launching . Alec Dan is welcoming us in a good way to the territory of the Musqueam people鈥檚 that will call home.

鈥� Iskwew Air (@IskwewAir)

鈥淚ndigenous women have been matriarchs, leaders, knowledge keepers, strategists, healers, and sophisticated entrepreneurs since time immemorial,鈥� said Fraser, who is Metis, in a news release.

鈥淏y including and amplifying these important and powerful voices, we can see a whole new future full of innovation, strength and economic prosperity.鈥�

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During Friday鈥檚 launch, Fraser also announced an initiative to inspire Indigenous youth to explore a career in aviation.

Through events around the province, the Give Them Wings program will give youth and their families the opportunity to learn more about aviation and what it takes to be a pilot.

BC Aviation Council chair Heather Bell said encouraging and recruiting young people is a key piece to reversing 鈥渁 looming human resource shortage鈥� in the industry.

鈥淭here is potential for this shortage to have significant impacts on Indigenous communities, should commercial providers find themselves unable to service remote and northern routes,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he need is real, the time is now. It is vital that programs like Give Them Wings exist.鈥�