By Adam Donnelly

Province’s wildfire preparedness plan hopes to strengthen partnerships with BC First Nations

Mar 21, 2019 | 5:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Tuesday, BC Forests Minister Doug Donaldson was in Kamloops to announce some major wildfire preparedness initiatives the Provincial government had planned to help minimize the wildfire threat across BC in 2019

During the press conference, Donaldson spoke of strengthening partnerships with First Nations throughout BC when it comes to wildfire fighting and prevention, which was one of the themes that came out of the Abbot-Chapman Report after 2017 Wildfire Season. As a result of those recommendations, the province has committed to a variety of measures to improve the way government works with indigenous British Columbians to fight wildfires, including recruitment and training opportunities for indigenous firefighters, as well as consultation with indigenous communities on wildfire prevention. According to Upper Nicola Indian Band Chief Harvey McLeod, it’s a partnership his community will welcome.

As part of the wildfire preparedness plan, the province plans to spend more on fire prevention through prescribed burns. Donaldson said the hope is the government will to work with BC First Nations to apply traditional indigenous knowledge to the prescribed burning program.