During the massive wildfires in the Canadian province of British Columbia last year, First Nations emergency responders fought the blazes in their communities along with other volunteers, firefighters and governmental personnel. Now, a historic tri-partite agreement between the Canadian Federal, Provincial and Tsilhqot’in National governments gives the B.C. First Nation control over emergency management planning in its community, according to The Columbia Pioneer.
“Last year’s devastating wildfire season underscored the need to strengthen our collective emergency response system. The lack of clarity around roles and responsibilities made a bad situation even worse,” said Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. “In face of this crisis, the leadership and response of the Tsilhqot’in Nation impressed upon me this — there is nothing more fundamental to any government than its ability to protect its citizens.”
“This is a start and we still have a lot of work to do, but I’m confident with the expertise and the commitment to get things right it will happen,” Tl’etinqox Chief and TNG tribal chair Joe Alphonse said. “Fires and flooding are the new norm and we better be prepared. That’s what we learned last summer.”
During that time, Alphonse told the Williams Lake Tribune that the Tl’etinqox brought in machinery to build a fire guard. “We have three firefighting unit crews registered with the province and are going to set up our own internal firefighting crew that’s not registered and start fighting it on our own,” he told the Tribune. “
Now, Alphonse told the Pioneer that the Tl’etinqox has up to 400 trained firefighters.
“We are working together to make sure our emergency management educational materials are culturally sensitive and accessible for Indigenous communities,” said Minister of public safety and solicitor general Mike Farnsworth at the press conference, according to The Pioneer. “This all stems from our 10-year agreement with the Government of Canada to deliver emergency management support to First Nations communities on reserve.”
That 10 year agreement provides $29.6 million towards the delivery of emergency management support services to on-reserve First Nation communities in British Columbia.
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