What Is Métis Fire Stewardship?
For the Métis, fire serves as an invaluable tool to build safe and resilient communities. “[Prescribed] burning combats wildfires by removing the “fuel” on the ground such as dead grass, leaves, and trees. As a result, when a wildfire starts on a patch of land that’s been culturally burned, it naturally lowers in intensity,” (Amy Cardinal Christianson, fire research scientist, ASTC Science World Society). Prescribed burns are utilized to cultivate resilient landscapes, mitigating wildfire hazards, and fostering stronger communities for Métis Citizens. Embracing a holistic approach to wildfire management, Métis-led fire stewardship and implementation of prescribed Métis-led firefighting are the path forward at the nexus of climate change and Truth and Reconciliation efforts. This path forward honours the enduring legacy of Métis stewardship of the land, advancing reconciliation efforts in Canada as it honours Métis knowledge and traditions while promoting environmental sustainability and equity.
Building Emergency Management Resiliency Across the Métis Nation
On October 31 & November 1, 2022, the Métis National Council held a Wildfire Workshop at the Alfred H. Savage Center in Edmonton, Alberta. Wildfire experts and practitioners from as far as Australia and as near as Edmonton gathered to share stories, perspectives, ideas, and plans for renewing the connection to wildfire while developing resiliency to the impacts of wildfire. Since then, MNC in partnership with Governing Members, also hosted a Métis Nation Incident Command Systems 200 (ICS200) 7 Emergency Management (EM) Workshop in Banff, Alberta on February 12-16, 2024, to provide critical training in alignment with culturally informed emergency preparedness across the Métis Nation Homeland.
Through workshops such as these, Governing Members and Métis emergency management professionals come together to leverage and build upon skills and experience through training and collaboration. This is all done with the focus of enabling Métis communities and citizens to mitigate risks during emergency situations, build community resiliency, and create further advocacy for Métis leadership in disaster response efforts. The Métis Nation faces "disproportionate impacts from climate change," and the Government of Canada recognizes that "Indigenous Knowledge Systems need to be considered for Canada to reduce some of the worst impacts of the climate crisis it currently faces." Despite these realities, the Government of Canada continues to fall short of its obligation to ensure Métis governments are equipped with adequate funding to prepare, respond, mitigate, and recover from emergencies. The MNC and Governing Members have been hard at work to rectify this tragic reality through a number of engagements with the Government of Canada and like-minded organizations that recognize the need for Métis emergency resiliency.
Métis Emergency Preparedness
Resilient emergency management practices are integral to the safety and wellbeing of Métis Citizens. As our lands, waters, skies and relations continue to be impacted by climate change, the Métis Nation is at a critical juncture to address the changing climate with Métis-driven solutions. Some important emergency management work being done at the MNC includes advocating for the role of Métis-led cultural burns to reduce wildfire impacts, the need for coordinated planning and resources across service sectors, protection against flooding, heatwaves, and wildfire smoke impacts, and culturally sensitive responses to health emergencies.
We, the Métis Nation, are a vibrant self-determined Nation. The MNC, in collaboration with our Governing Members and Partners, work diligently to respond and adapt to a rapidly changing climate through our deeply rooted connection to the land and our culture.
Check out the Métis National Council Wildfire Workshop on YouTube & the 2024 National Métis Climate Strategy
By: Kristyn Houle, Communications Coordinator, MNC; Erin Myers, Director of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management, MNC; Dane DeSouza, Policy Advisor, Climate Change & Emergency Management, MNC
Pictured: A copy of the 2024 National Métis Climate Strategy