Rekindling Our Relationship with Fire:
First Nations Guardians Wildfire Response & Management
ILI Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
1 PM AT/12 PM ET/11 AM CT/10 AM MT/9 AM PT
Duration: 3.5 hours
First Nations are often on the frontlines of wildfires. Our communities face increased threat from fire and evacuation. Yet we also offer Indigenous knowledge and laws that reduce risk and preserve the health of forests.
The ILI is convening this workshop to learn from Guardians how to help strengthen Indigenous leadership in managing and responding to wildfires.
The virtual event will offer an opportunity to exchange perspectives on existing and potential roles for Guardians in wildfire management and response. And it will explore First Nations’ role in determining wildfire policy and climate resilience on traditional territories.
Watch the full public session here:
Graphic recording of the event by artist Ngit'stil Norbert. Click the image to download.
Agenda
12:00 PM ET Welcome & Opening Prayer: Valérie Courtois & Elder Roland Duquette
12:10 PM ET Introduction & Context: Brady Highway & Linda Dwyer
12:20 PM ET Fighting Fire: ILI Senior Leader Perspective, Bev Sellars
12:30 PM ET Panel: Stories from the Ground in Summer 2021, moderated by Brady Highway
Darrell Peters, Skeetchestn First Nation
Dr. Amy Christianson, Fire Research Scientist, Canadian Forest Service
Dennis Keeper, Guardian, Little Grand Rapids First Nation
1:20 PM ET Guardian Photo Stories
1:30 PM ET Break (15mins)
1:45 PM ET Guardian Photo Stories
1:50 PM ET Small-group Breakout Discussions
2:45 PM ET Summary of Perspectives shared back to the Large Group
3:15 PM ET Closing Comments & Closing Prayer, Valérie Courtois & Elder Roland Duquette
ILI Fire Project Summary
Indigenous Guardians and Wildfire Management: Project Summary
The Indigenous Guardians and Wildfire Management project aims to develop a draft national strategy for how Indigenous Guardians might become more actively involved in fire management planning and response. This includes identifying ways to include Indigenous values and approaches to the management of fire-driven ecosystems, restore cultural burning practices and traditional fire stewardship, and exploring mechanisms for coordinated wildfire response across all Guardian programs.
Resources
Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship
Blazing the Trail is a resource of detailed, first-person stories that provide insight and context about Indigenous Peoples and fire stewardship. The narrative encourages celebration and sharing of wise practices and lessons learned across generations.
Giving Voice to Cultural Safety of Indigenous Wildland Firefighters in Canada
Funded by Natural Resources Canada - Emergency Management Strategy - Wildlife Fire Resilience Initiative, this project provides preliminary data on cultural safety and occupational health and safety that is necessary to improve the understanding of Indigenous perspectives on wildland firefighting and wildland fire operations across what is now called Canada.
First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A Guide for Communities and External Agencies
This evacuation guide is based on interviews with over 200 wildfire evacuees from seven First Nations. By comparing the evacuees’ experiences, both good and bad, it provides direction on how Indigenous communities and external agencies can best prepare for the different stages of an evacuation.
Recent Media Coverage
CBC Radio / The Current: Skeetchestn First Nation wants more prescribed burns to protect from future wildfires
Globe & Mail article: First Nations want a bigger say in how wildfires are managed
CBC Radio / As It Happens: We must prepare for wildfires, not just react to them, urges First Nations councillor
Vox article: An Indigenous firefighter explains how to better manage wildfires
Toronto Star op-ed by Brady Highway: Indigenous Peoples must be heard about the roar of Canada’s forest fires
CTV article: Meet the Indigenous fire teams fighting to end the blazes in BC and beyond
CBC interactive article: Knowing Fire
CBC article: How Indigenous 'cultural burns' can replenish our forests
Pimachiowin Aki: How Wildfires have affected Pimachiowin Aki