Integrating Indigenous-led recovery in BC wildfire management

Over the past ten years, British Columbia has experienced increasingly severe wildfires due to climate change factors such as warmer-than-average temperatures, decreased snowpack, and low soil moisture. While Canadian emergency management practices are highly regarded, there exists a critical gap in integrating local Indigenous knowledge into wildfire recovery strategies. Indigenous communities in BC have long practiced land stewardship and fire management through traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), providing profound understanding of sustainable wildfire mitigation and recovery. However, centralized management structures and limited partnerships with Indigenous groups impede the adoption of these practices into mainstream disaster risk reduction. This capstone research paper examines how emergency management in BC can incorporate Indigenous knowledge to enhance their wildfire recovery strategies. By employing a pragmatic research approach, the study employs a qualitative, secondary research methodology analyzing case studies, policy documents, and expert insights from Indigenous-led fire management initiatives in BC, Australia, and North America to identify adaptable and culturally respectful solutions that foster long-term resilience and sustainability. The key findings reveal systemic challenges such as worldview conflicts, governance fragmentation, and a lack of Indigenous-authored literature. On the contrary, successful models like Australia’s WALFA project and the Tsilhqot’in Fire Management Program demonstrate effective collaborations. Further, the recommendations include co-governance frameworks, legislative reforms, and Indigenous-led research initiatives. Thus, by centering Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge, this research advocates for a paradigm shift from suppression to stewardship, fostering resilience and reconciliation.