First Nations knowledge crucial in fighting climate disasters
Global News
The First Nations Emergency Services Society is hosting a boot camp in Kamloops this week to help build community capacity on emergency preparedness.,
With spring on the horizon, emergency services organizations are beginning to prep for the upcoming potential flood and wildfire seasons. And that’s exactly what the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) is doing in Kamloops, B.C., this week — practical training for what’s to come.
They’re running their first-ever boot camp aimed at changing the way British Columbia deals with climate disasters by fostering capacity among community members. The event is slated to have over 80 both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants.
Last year, while historic in its length, the 2022 fire season was significantly quieter than the devastation of 2021.
Many natural disasters happen on First Nations territory and the hope is that this boot camp will give community members the knowledge and tools to save their own land and people.
“Our biggest goal with FNESS right now is getting in and training the First Nations and developing teams within communities,” said Jamie Svendsen FNESS preparedness and response manager.
Originally established to help reduce the number of fire-related deaths in First Nations communities, FNESS now provides a variety of emergency services and aims to be the organization communities reach out to for “support and delivery of essential emergency and forest fuel management programs and services.”
Fire services manager Nathan Combs said early preparation is key to making sure everyone’s on the same page when it comes to what a response will look like.
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