Emergency Management in Indigenous communities

Overview

Weather-related natural disasters and emergencies are becoming more severe, frequent, and damaging. Indigenous communities can be disproportionately affected by emergencies due to their remoteness, capacity and population.

The federal government is committed to working with Indigenous peoples to better understand the emergency management risks they face and to develop an emergency management approach that is inclusive and accessible to all Canadians.

Indigenous Emergency Management Capabilities Inventory

As part of the ongoing effort to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities, in May 2017, Federal / Provincial / Territorial (FPT) Ministers agreed to work collaboratively with Indigenous representatives to develop an inventory of emergency management capabilities in Indigenous communities across Canada. The Indigenous Emergency Management Capabilities Inventory is led by Public Safety Canada and the Assembly of First Nations. Public Safety Canada is working closely with Indigenous representatives and communities, other federal departments, provinces/territories, and other emergency management partners to ensure the inventory is culturally sensitive, appropriate, and beneficial to communities. The project was piloted with targeted Indigenous communities in the fall of 2018 and will be rolled-out nationally in early 2019.  

The resulting Indigenous Emergency Management Capabilities Inventory will be used by the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous communities as a tool to collaboratively focus on the emergency management needs of Indigenous communities across Canada.

Are you an emergency management coordinator in a First Nation, Inuit or Métis community who is interested in participating in the inventory? Contact us!

Resources:

Indigenous Services Canada
Emergency Management Assistance Program

Date modified:

2019-02-18