Tŝilhqot’in Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement reached

Press Release

July 6, 2022

VANCOUVER – Strengthening support and capacity for the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and its communities to be true partners and leaders in emergency management is the foundation of the renewed five-year tripartite Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement (CEMA).

The agreement enables the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and the governments of British Columbia and Canada to build on successes from the 2018 agreement while advancing reconciliation through the development of a respect-based, government-to-government framework for emergency and wildfire management.

The CEMA will create a structure for collaboration to ensure that Nations are at the table and informing decisions that affect them, their families and their territories while prioritizing the importance of cultural safety and Indigenous knowledge in wildfire and emergency management.

The agreement identifies and supports the implementation of policies and protocols to allow seamless and effective emergency management across all orders of government, including Indigenous, federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments. It also commits the parties to jointly explore and develop a proposal for an Indigenous-led regional emergency centre, a training facility and evacuation centres.

The three governments are committing to co-develop and collaboratively implement strategies to enhance the role and capacity of Tŝilhqot’in peoples in emergency management, including a review of infrastructure, operational requirements and other capacity needs.

With the signing of this agreement, the governments of British Columbia and Canada bring forward a renewed determination to deliver emergency services with Indigenous Peoples in a way that is culturally safe, efficient and effective.

The agreement reflects the common goal of the three governments to build trust and relationships in the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Over the past five years, the parties have made progress related to establishing government-to-government agreements and protocols that provide a progressive framework for:

emergency response;
enhancing community capacity funding;
improving financial reimbursement processes; and
continuing to seek solutions to medium- and long-range infrastructure investments, such as fire halls.

From February 2017 to February 2022, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) contributed $1.3 million to implement the agreement. With the signing of the new agreement, Canada has committed to ensuring this funding continues with $250,000 per year over five years. Additionally, ISC will provide $225,000 through its First Nation Infrastructure Fund to support the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and Tŝilhqot’in communities in emergency management community planning.

Since 2019, the Province, through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, has granted the Tŝilhqot’in National Government more than $836,000 to advance emergency support services, emergency operations centres and firefighting priorities. This year, Emergency Management BC provided an additional $280,000 to further priorities set under the Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement.

The work done with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and Tŝilhqot’in communities is intended to inform work with other Indigenous governments and communities, as well as the broader commitment to improve overall emergency management in B.C. and throughout the country.

Quick Facts:

The Tŝilhqot’in territory covers 6.65 million hectares (approximately 16 million acres) of land between the Fraser River and the Coast Mountains in west-central B.C.
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government consists of the Tŝilhqot’in communities of Tl’etinqox (Anaham), ?Esdilagh (Alexandria), Yunesit’in (Stone), Tsi Deldel (Alexis Creek/Redstone), Tl’esqox (Toosey) and Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah).
The first-ever Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement was created with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, the Province and the federal government in 2018 following the catastrophic 2017 fire season in the B.C. Interior.
Canada and British Columbia are working with First Nation partners to develop a provincewide tripartite approach to emergency management that recognizes First Nations as full partners.
Emergency Management BC is co-developing modernized emergency management legislation with Indigenous partners to ensure a new act supports more effective emergency management and aligns with the principles of UNDRIP.

Learn More:

Collective Emergency Management Agreement: https://www.tsilhqotin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022_Collaborative_Emergency_Management_Agreement.pdf

Tŝilhqot’in National Government: https://www.tsilhqotin.ca/

For information about BC Wildfire Service’s Cultural and Prescribed Fire Program, visit: https://prescribedfire.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Emergency Management BC
Media Relations
250 880-6430

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160
media@sac-isc.gc.ca

Alison Murphy
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services
Alison.Murphy@sac-isc.gc.ca

Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Myanna Desaulniers
Communications Manager
250 305-7885

BACKGROUNDER

What people are saying about the renewed Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement

Chief Joe Alphonse, Tŝilhqot’in National Government –

“With the reality of the climate crisis, we move from one disaster to another. The renewal of this agreement today works to address issues of the past while breaking trail for a future of continually improving emergency services. We are encouraged to see the commitment by our partners to make progress on our infrastructure priorities, specifically toward the much-needed regional emergency centre our people have been asking for. As Tŝilhqot’in people, we live in very remote areas with no cell coverage and very few emergency services. This groundbreaking agreement allows us to build up our own capacity and resources to manage emergencies on the land and in the communities. We are dealing with an area twice the size of Vancouver Island, and the Tŝilhqot’in people, and all people in this area, need to know they have effective access to emergency services. The renewal of this agreement hopes to accomplish that.”

Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Indigenous Services –

“As climate change spurs on increasingly intense and frequent wildfires, the Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous leaders, provinces and territories to keep people safe and prepare for future events. With their Traditional Knowledge of the land and culture, First Nation leaders and organizations must be at the forefront of emergency management. Renewing this agreement and partnership with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and the Government of British Columbia is a step forward not just for reconciliation, but for our collective safety and shared environment.”

Gudie Hutchings, federal Minister of Rural Economic Development –

“For Canada to succeed, we need our rural, remote and Indigenous communities to thrive. This includes ensuring that Indigenous communities have the emergency services and infrastructure they need. Today’s collaborative emergency management agreement will ensure the Tŝilhqot’in National Government are true partners and leaders in emergency management while highlighting and advancing the strengths, expertise and opportunities within Tŝilhqot’in communities to inform and support wildfire and emergency management.”

Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General –

“This agreement is a demonstration of our renewed commitment to work side by side with Indigenous communities to better support their emergency management needs and contribute to our larger commitment to strengthen overall emergency management in the province. We look forward to continuing to work with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation as true partners and leaders in emergency management.”

Murray Rankin, B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

“As part of building a better British Columbia and upholding Indigenous rights, we are committed to developing a recognition-based emergency management structure in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Canada. Creating new standards for Indigenous-led emergency management and collaborative community resilience is no easy task, and the only way we will make progress is through partnerships like this one. I look forward to building on our successes and strengthening our relationships for years to come.”

Katrine Conroy, B.C.’s Minister of Forests –

“Floods, landslides and wildfires have had a devastating impact on our province; Indigenous communities are often among the hardest hit. Working in partnership with Tŝilhqot’in Nation and its communities on this agreement moves us all forward in ensuring emergency service delivery is inclusive, culturally aligned and respects Indigenous knowledge.”

Contacts:

Emergency Management BC
Media Relations
250 880-6430

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160
media@sac-isc.gc.ca

Alison Murphy
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services
Alison.Murphy@sac-isc.gc.ca

Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Myanna Desaulniers
Communications Manager
250 305-7885

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

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