Funding Will Improve Cultural Safety For Indigenous People During Emergencies

Communities across B.C. will receive funding to enhance cultural safety in local emergency management, helping ensure First Nations, Métis and Inuit people are treated with inclusivity and respect during emergencies.

“We have heard that emergency management supports can be delivered in a more culturally safe and inclusive way. Supporting Indigenous people and communities begins with understanding their history and values,” said George Heyman, acting Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

“By creating more opportunities for staff and volunteers to learn about cultural safety, we are working toward ensuring Indigenous people feel respected, included and cared for during emergencies.”

The Province is providing approximately $580,000 for 22 local projects under the Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training stream of the Community Emergency and Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

It will be used by local governments and First Nations to make emergency management and supports more inclusive of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.

Projects will include a two-day workshop for Tseshaht First Nation emergency-response staff will focus on the history of residential schools, the effect of displacement on Indigenous Peoples and how to create culturally safe spaces in emergency reception centres.

Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations, and Reconciliation says the supports are part of the province’s work to build a better BC where all people can access the services and programs they need.

The fund helps communities to better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories, including disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, public notification and evacuation-route planning, and emergency-support services equipment and training.

The Province says it has invested $369 million into the CEPF since it was established in 2017.

Approximately $176 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments for more than 1,700 projects.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.