Enabling First Nations Leadership and Partnership in Wildfire Response in British Columbia, Canada

As wildfires grow in scale and intensity, First Nations communities in British Columbia are calling for a greater role in wildfire response. The disproportionate impacts on Indigenous communities in Canada drive these demands: while Indigenous people represent approximately 5% of the population, they account for around 42% of wildfire evacuations, primarily from communities with majority Indigenous populations. In British Columbia, new collaborative pathways between First Nations and provincial agencies are emerging, emphasizing co-leadership in wildfire response and management.

This research, based on semi-structured interviews with 15 experts from First Nations communities and agencies and a review of 42 documents on wildfire response, underscores the existing capacities and priorities required to strengthen First Nations-led partnerships. Within these communities, capacities such as local knowledge, firefighting experience, essential equipment, dedicated funding, relationships, and, critically, leadership are essential yet often underrecognized resources.

Key Priority Opportunities:

• Capacity Building: Establishing fully equipped wildfire response crews, full-time, year-round wildfire management teams, Emergency Management Coordinators, First Nations Liaisons, and cross-trained wildland and structural firefighting crews is paramount. This development enables First Nations to be both proactive and responsive in fire management, reducing the reliance on external agencies and increasing autonomy.

• Cultural Safety and Rights Recognition: Embedding cultural safety into training and operations to counter racism and fostering respect for Indigenous Rights and Title is essential. Empowering First Nations communities requires an environment where Indigenous perspectives are valued, and sovereignty in land stewardship is respected.

• Streamlined Funding: Consistent, streamlined funding for equipment, training, and operational costs is critical to sustaining Indigenous-led fire management programs. This approach would reduce barriers and allow communities to enhance readiness and resilience effectively.

Towards Transformative Fire Management by promoting these cooperative pathways, British Columbia can transition towards a fire management model that is not only inclusive but transformative, centered on First Nations-led partnerships. This approach leverages Indigenous land stewardship and localized firefighting expertise, supporting both ecological resilience and community protection. As noted by the lead author Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz (Dr., UBC Centre for Wildfire Co-Existence) and co-authors Dave Pascal, Vanessa Comeau, and Lori D. Daniels, the shift towards Indigenous-led wildfire response models reflects an evolving recognition of the strengths and rights of First Nations, as well as the practical need for inclusive, culturally informed responses to increasingly severe wildfire events.