Wildfires in First Nations communities

Newfoundland

• Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador

Prince Edward Island

• Department of Justice and Public Safety Emergency Measures Organization

Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office

New Brunswick

• Emergency Measures Organization

Quebec

• Public safety and Emergencies

Ontario

• Emergency Management Ontario
• Fire protection and prevention

Manitoba

• Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization
• Manitoba Wildfire Service

Saskatchewan

• Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations
• Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency

Alberta

• Alberta Emergency Management Agency
• Alberta Wildfire

British Columbia

• Emergency Management BC
• First Nations' Emergency Services Society of British Columbia
• BC Wildfire Service

Northwest Territories

• Northwest Territories Department of Municipal and Community Affairs

Yukon

• Emergencies and safety

Nunavut

• Nunavut Emergency Management

Structural mitigation

ISC administers the First Nations Infrastructure Fund, which provides funding to First Nations on reserves for structural mitigation projects that reduce the threat of natural hazards and build infrastructure resilient to natural hazards. Integrating structural mitigation measures into the lifecycle of community assets, including housing, community buildings, schools, water and wastewater facilities and roads and bridges, will make them more resilient to potential hazards.

Projects include, but are not limited to:

• Fire breaks
• Infrastructure wildfire prevention measures, for example, using fire retardant construction materials, preserving and enhancing natural infrastructure such as wetlands, and installing high volume sprinkler systems in community buildings

Emergency Management Assistance Program

ISC administers the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) as the main source of federal funding to reimburse on-reserve emergency management activities, including:

• mitigation
• preparedness
• response
• recovery

The program also provides funding to provinces, territories and non-government organizations to support on-reserve emergency management and response services.

In addition, the Building Back Better Strategy for implementing EMAP offers additional supports to reduce First Nations communities' vulnerability and strengthen resilience in response and recovery.

Specific examples in each region are set out below.

Atlantic

(Atlantic regional office)

In the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, ISC provided support for preparedness and non-structural mitigation activities in Atlantic Canada specific to wildfires. Investment for FireSmart projects in 2024 to 2025 included:

• adding a coordinator position to support FireSmart work in First Nation communities
• wildfire suppression equipment and training
• vegetation management tools such as wood chippers and saws
• participation at wildfire training events

Since January 2020, ISC has provided capacity enhancement funding to First Nations and tribal councils in all 4 Atlantic provinces to support First Nations Emergency Management Coordinators to plan for and deal with various natural emergencies, including wildfires.

In 2024 to 2025 EMAP provided additional investments in Emergency Management Capacity, supporting Emergency management Coordinators at both the tribal council and community level, with a total of 41 positions being supported. These positions are instrumental in support wildfire training, awareness and prevention.

In Nova Scotia, each of the 13 First Nations communities have an Emergency Program Coordinator. In addition, funding is provided for 2 Emergency Program Coordinators for each of the 2 tribal councils in the province.

Quebec

(Quebec regional office)

A bilateral agreement between the Government of Quebec and ISC includes support to First Nations in Quebec during disasters and collaboration between federal and provincial governments in disaster risk management.

ISC supports First Nations in Quebec with emergency preparedness activities, particularly through responder training and the organization of emergency management exercises. In addition, communities can rely on departmental representatives to help develop and update their emergency management plans.

Risk mitigation measures have been implemented in First Nations communities with financial support from ISC. These include:

• funding for telecommunications equipment and wildfire protection and suppression gear for the communities of Wemotaci, Unamen Shipu, Manawan, Opitciwan and Lac-Simon
• funding for blower door tests and the purchase of equipment to establish clean air shelters in all 9 Cree communities. These shelters help avoid evacuations during poor air quality events. Additional clean air centres are being installed in Pikogan, Wemotaci, Opitciwan, Lac-Simon and Barriere Lake
• funding for 115 PurpleAir sensors to monitor air quality in Indigenous communities or urban centres. These sensors help determine whether the air is safe enough to receive evacuees from First Nations. As of March 2024, a total of 90 sensors had been installed in 30 communities and 9 partner municipalities or organizations with 25 more in the process of being installed

In addition to these direct investments, ISC supports First Nations through the following measures and projects:

• funding to W8banaki to establish an emergency management support program for First Nations
• maintaining the regional agreement with the Canadian Red Cross to support First Nations with emergency preparedness and evacuations, including training and exercises on disaster services and risk management and planning for the delivery of services to evacuees
• roviding funding to Société de protection des forêts contre le feu to deliver Intelli-feu wildfire training to community emergency coordinators and help communities face wildfire threats

The Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec is responsible for civil protection in the province. It supports municipalities to protectpeople and property during disasters. ISCis responsible for civil protection in on-reserve Indigenous communities.

Ontario

(Ontario regional office)

Indigenous Services Canada supports emergency management coordinators in Ontario to provide First Nations with additional capacity to plan for and deal with various natural emergencies, including wildland fires.

In fiscal year 2025 to 2026, ISC will enter year 8 of a 10-year bilateral agreement with the Province of Ontario, designed to strengthen response capacity to natural hazards and events affecting First Nations, including flooding and wildfires.

In 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, ISC will support 33 emergency management coordinators in the following First Nations communities and organizations:

• Grassy Narrows
• Mohawk Council of Awkwesasne
• Beausoleil
• Fort Albany
• Attawapiskat
• Kashechewan
• Fort William
• Ginoogaming
• Henvey Inlet
• Sagamok
• Thessalon
• Serpent River
• Mississauga, also known as Mississauga #8
• Batchewana
• Wabaseemoong, also known as White Dog
• Nipissing
• Saugeen
• Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, also known as Pic Mobert
• Taykwa Tagamou Nation
• Wahnapitae
• Mattagami
• Wiikwemikoong unceded territory
• Wasauksing First Nation
• Sandy Lake
• Weenusk
• Nokiiwin
• Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services'
• Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation
• Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario

Note: ISC's Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) capacity funding covers emergency management coordinators in the above communities. Other First Nation communities may be funded through other means, including service agreements.

Funding is available for First Nations and tribal councils who are interested in providing front-line support during an emergency event, including wildland fires. Areas of training include incident management, aerial imaging, resource management and community wellbeing.

New partnerships have been established with various First Nations communities and First Nations organizations to develop Indigenous-led teams to assist and support First Nations residents when they are evacuated to host communities:

• ISC is funding 2 capacity positions within the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO) to assist communities in Ontario with mapping for wildfire preparedness, flood mapping and 911 services. This support is for communities that lack the internal capacity to develop these plans. IPCO can provide guidance or fully manage the entire project, depending on community needs

ISC continues to support First Nations-led solutions designed to increase host evacuation capacity in Ontario.

Manitoba

(Manitoba regional office)

Since 2022 to 2023, ISC has provided $3.5 million to Manitoba First Nations under the Wildland Fire Urban Interface fund for wildfire fighting equipment.

Manitoba Wildfire Services provides wildland firefighting services to protect First Nations communities on reserve through a funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada. ISC provides approximately $6 million annually to the Province of Manitoba through this agreement.

ISC works with First Nations, provinces and territories and emergency services partners to ensure that First Nations communities at risk of wildfires have the resources they need and are able to respond in the event of an emergency.

Since January 2020, ISC has provided capacity enhancement funding to all 63 First Nations and 7 tribal councils in Manitoba to support communities' and tribal councils' First Nations Emergency Management Coordinators.

ISC supports First Nations in Manitoba during emergency events and will activate the Canadian Red Cross, when requested by nations, to coordinate the provision of emergency supports required during evacuation, repatriation or shelter-in-place events.

Saskatchewan

(Saskatchewan regional office)

ISC supports First Nations, tribal councils and First Nations organizations in Saskatchewan under the 4 pillars of emergency management on an annual basis to enhance emergency management capacity at the community level, including wildfire planning through the following:

• creating community emergency management leads and liaisons to provide emergency management planning, guidance and advice to leadership, the First Nations and partners
• forming community emergency management teams and committees
• developing and updating community all-hazard emergency management plans, including all-hazard risk assessments
• exercise design and related training, for example, basic emergency management, creating incident command systems and emergency operations centres, addressing emergency social services and training information officers
• community engagement to enhance preparedness, response and recovery capacity

Through EMAP, ISC also supports:

• the annual First Nations Emergency Management Forum, where Saskatchewan First Nations share emergency management initiatives and experiences, lessons learned and build relationships and partnerships
• After Action Reports with First Nations, tribal councils and partners as part of post-emergency and evacuation assessments
• Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activation and training to coordinate and manage emergency events at the community level
• First Nations collaboration agreements developed with Canadian Red Cross for direct assistance during emergencies, including evacuations as well as preparedness and planning initiatives and training and exercises in risk management
• First Nations emergency social services preparedness and training
• search and recovery capacity and training

ISC uses the Building Back Better strategy to support First Nations in response and recovery to reduce community vulnerability for natural disaster related emergency events and strengthen community capacity and resilience.

Through the FireSmart program, ISC also provides supports for fuel management projects to protect First Nations communities in Saskatchewan and to help them better prepare for wildfire seasons.

Alberta

(Alberta regional office)

Indigenous Services Canda (ISC) supports First Nations in Alberta through the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) and other initiatives to:

• reduce the risk of wildfire-related impacts, infrastructure, and community assets through FireSmart and non-structural mitigation programs
• respond to imminent threats and emergencies
• support recovery following wildfire events, including the restoration of roads, housing, and band-owned buildings
• strengthen long-term community resilience to future wildfire events
• advance planning and mitigation efforts to address the impacts of climate change on First Nations' infrastructure and land

Through the FireSmart program, ISC provides targeted funding for projects such as fireguard installation, equipment purchases, vegetation management, emergency planning, training, and wildfire mapping.

The 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 wildfire seasons were among the most active on record in Alberta. In response, ISC has expanded its support to include a wide range of community-led preparedness and mitigation initiatives. These efforts focus on reducing wildfire risk, enhancing local readiness, and building long-term resilience.

To strengthen local capacity, ISC continues to work in close partnership with First Nations to advance emergency planning and coordination. As of fiscal year 2024 to 2025, ISC is funding an Emergency Management Coordinator for each of the 48 First Nations in Alberta through a $13.2 million, 3-year proof of concept initiative. These dedicated positions enable communities to lead across the 4 pillars of emergency management, while tailoring approaches to the specific risks and priorities of each First Nation.

In addition, ISC has funded a rage of targeted wildfire preparedness and mitigation projects. Examples include:

• vegetation management and fireguard installation through the FireSmart program in high-risk areas based on First Nation driven priorities
• evacuation route planning and wildfire-specific emergency mapping, supported through the Non-Structural Mitigation and Preparedness program
• community-led training and public awareness campaigns focused on wildfire prevention, supported through localized FireSmart funding based on First Nations priorities
• procurement of firefighting equipment, including water tanks, personal protective equipment, and communication tools for First Nations looking to enhance local response capacity, with an emphasis on supporting high-risk First Nations

ISC also maintains an emergency management service agreement with the Province of Alberta which provides First Nations with integrated access to the provincial emergency management system. This agreement enables coordinated emergency responses, supports on-site provincial presence during active events and facilitates preparedness training and emergency planning assistance.

British Columbia

(British Columbia regional office)

ISC is committed to ensuring First Nations affected by wildfires in British Columbia are safe and secure, a coordinated emergency management response is supported and communities are positioned for a strong recovery.

ISC has a 10-year bilateral service agreement with the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for the provision of emergency services on reserve. This agreement aims to improve the safety, security, and resilience of First Nations communities in British Columbia by providing the necessary resources and support for effective emergency management.

ISC also has a bilateral service agreement with BC Wildfire Services for the provision of wildfire suppression on-reserve lands. Additionally, in British Columbia the First Nations' Emergency Services Society works closely with ISC, First Nations communities, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and the First Nations Health Authority, to support First Nations in preparing, mitigating, responding to and recovering from emergency events. In British Columbia, First Nations Emergency Services Society administers the ISC FireSmart on reserve funding.

The First Nations Leadership Council, Indigenous Services Canada and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness have been working together to advance the development of a new Multilateral Emergency Management Agreement that reflects the unique needs and priorities of First Nations in British Columbia. This work is directed by the resolutions passed by the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and First Nations Summit to support a phased negotiation model.

January 30, 2025, marked the conclusion of phase roman numeral 1I with outcomes that will bring immediate enhancements to emergency management funding and increased capacity for First Nations across British Columbia including $2.5 million in new funding committed by Indigenous Services Canada to support the creation of 34 new full-time, multi-year Emergency Management Program Coordinator positions in:

• We Wai Kai First Nation
• T'Sou-ke First Nation
• Hupacasath First Nation
• Scia'new First Nation
• Ditidaht First Nation
• N'Quatqua
• Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation
• Esquimalt Nation
• Snuneymuxw First Nation
• Kitselas First Nation
• Skwah First Nation
• Leq'a:mel First Nation
• Kitsumkalum Band
• Chawathil First Nation
• Coldwater Indian Band
• Tzeachten First Nation
• Kitasoo Xai'xais
• Haisla Nation
• Nuxalk Nation
• Lower Nicola Indian Band
• Esk'etemc East
• Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc
• Tsqescen First Nation
• Stswecemc'c Xgat'tem First Nation
• Saik'uz First Nation
• Skeetchestn Indian Band
• Tl'esqox
• Tl'etinqox Government
• Yunesit'in Government
• Lake Babine Nation
• Iskut
• Blueberry River First Nation
• West Moberly
• Tl'azt'en Nation

ISC additionally funds 14 regional Emergency Management Coordinators positions in the following organizations:

• First Nations Leadership Council and First Nations Summit Society,
• 3Nations Society
• Nuu-chah nulth Tribal Council
• Shuswap Nation Tribal Council Secwepemc Health Caucus
• Tsilhqot'in National Government
• Dãkelh Dené Southern Dakelh Nation Alliance Society
• Nlaka'pamux Health Services Society
• Ktunaxa Tribal Council
• St'át'imc Tribal Council, Lilloeet Tribal Council
• Syilx Tribal Council, Okanagan Nation Alliance
• Nautsa mawt Tribal Council
• WSÁNEĆ Nation
• Emergency Planning Secretariate
• The Secretariat of the Haida Nation

The 14 Emergency Management Coordinators support 109 First Nations communities in British Columbia.

Yukon

(Yukon regional office)

ISC works with 14 Yukon First Nations and 3 First Nations located in northern British Columbia.

In the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, 9 of 17 First Nations in Yukon and northern British Columbia region received Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) funding:

• Yukon:
  • Carcross/Tagish First Nation
  • Champagne Aishihik First Nations
  • Liard First Nation
  • First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun
  • Kwanlin Dun First Nation
  • Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
  • Ross River Dena Council
• British Columbia
  • Taku River Tlingit First Nation
  • Daylu Dena Council

This funding supported and enhanced emergency management capacity at the community level through:

• investments in equipment for emergency preparedness and mitigation, such as handbooks, computers, printers, storage for emergency equipment, updating obsolete emergency information or status displays, and communications equipment
• maintenance of emergency equipment
• development and updating of community all-hazard emergency management plans, including all-hazard risk assessments
• training and testing of emergency plans through tabletop exercises and evaluation of plans including basic emergency management, creating incident command systems and emergency operations centres, addressing emergency social services, and training information officers
• roles and responsibility training, guidance, and advice to leadership, including governance and partner roles
• community engagement through testing of plans to enhance preparedness, response, and recovery capacity

ISC continues to support Yukon and northern British Columbia First Nations to:

• reduce the potential for wildfire that threatens residents, houses, and other infrastructure through fire smart programs
• respond to imminent threats
• recover from wildfire events
• support the restoration of communities and assets
• reduce the vulnerability of First Nations communities to future wildfire events
• strengthen community resilience to future wildfire events

In 2024 to 2025, ISC supported FireSmart projects in the following Yukon and northern British Columbia communities:

• Yukon:
  • Carcross/Tagish First Nation
  • Champagne Aishihik First Nations
  • Liard First Nation
  • First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun
  • Ross River Dena Council
  • Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation
  • Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
  • Selkirk First Nation
  • Kwanlin Dun First Nation
  • Ta'an Kwach'an Council
  • Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
• British Columbia:
  • Taku River Tlingit First Nation