First Nations Wildfire Evacuations

Tara K. McGee is a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. Her work focuses on the human dimensions of wildfire – including wildfire mitigation and preparedness by homeowners and governments – as well as on how people respond to wildfires, including evacuation decision-making, evacuations, and recovery. Amy Cardinal Christianson is a Métis woman from Treaty 8 territory, currently living in Treaty 6, and a research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. Her research explores Indigenous fire stewardship, Indigenous wildland firefighters, wildfire evacuations, and Indigenous research methodology. Amy also co-hosts the Good Fire podcast, which looks at Indigenous fire use around the world. The First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership is made up of representatives from seven First Nations, as well as researchers and agencies involved in providing support during wildfire evacuations. Its aim is to learn about how First Nation peoples and communities have been affected by evacuations and to make recommendations for how to reduce their negative impacts.

First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A Guide for Communities and External Agencies is a critical step-by-step guide for all parties affected.

Richard Thornton, CEO, Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, Australia:

This unique and readable book examines the complex issues associated with wildfire evacuation planning, execution, and recovery in First Nations communities in Canada. The practical guiding questions at the end of each chapter ensure that this book will be useful to anyone working in Indigenous and remote communities around the world that are facing wildfire challenges.

Stephen Wyatt, professor of social forestry and forest policy, École de foresterie, Université de Moncton:

We have seen fire evacuations on the news and read reports of confusion, panic, and trauma both during and after these evacuations. McGee, Christianson, and their colleagues enable First Nations communities to tell their stories, while also rigorously analyzing successes, failures, and lessons learned. If future reports show better-run and less stressful evacuations, it may well be because community leaders and emergency managers have read this book.

Amber MacLean-Hawes, emergency management project manager, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq:

Combining research and the powerful voices of community members, this book provides a holistic approach to wildfire evacuations. It is an important resource not only for First Nations, but for any community wanting to plan for any kind of emergency evacuation.

David A. Diabo, Assembly of First Nations, Special Advisor–Emergency Services:

It was a great pleasure working with Tara McGee and Amy Christianson on the First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership. Their work highlights the fact that Indigenous people, in learning from the environments they have lived in and cared for since time immemorial, have embraced the First Nations’ idea that adaptation equals resilience equals sustainability.

Noreen Krusel, wildfire management research-to-practice advocate, Australia:

Good emergency management is deeply human-centric. Drawing on remarkable true-life experiences, this book offers practical guidance on emergency evacuation. Well-researched, inclusive, insightful, and approachable, it ticks all the boxes.