{"id":2193,"date":"2026-01-13T15:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T23:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/chasi\/?p=2193"},"modified":"2026-01-13T15:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T23:22:12","slug":"wildfire-resilient-futures-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/chasi\/2026\/01\/13\/wildfire-resilient-futures-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHASI is proud to maintain a longstanding partnership with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council<\/a> (NIFSC). The NIFSC supports Indigenous communities in the development of their internal capacity to enhance community safety and resiliency. <\/em>As part of this partnership, CHASI is pleased to amplify their articles on our blog.<\/em><\/p>\n

CHASI\u2019s collaboration with the NIFSC, and many of their other research work, can be found on our NIFSC Publications page<\/a>. For questions about the NIFSC and their work, please visit their <\/em>contact page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Len Garis, <\/em>Mandy Desautels<\/em><\/p>\n

A New National Effort to Strengthen Wildfire Resilience in Indigenous Communities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more unpredictable across Canada. For many First Nations, M\u00e9tis, and Inuit communities\u2014especially those located in the wildland\u2013urban interface\u2014the risks are growing faster than the resources available to manage them. These fires threaten homes, cultural sites, infrastructure, health, and the land itself.<\/p>\n

To meet this challenge, Natural Resources Canada has launched the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative \u2013 Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge Program<\/em>, a national effort designed to deepen understanding of wildfire risk and support communities in developing stronger, culturally grounded wildfire resilience.<\/p>\n

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) is leading a major multi\u2011year project under this program to work directly with Indigenous communities across the country. The goal is simple but transformative: build wildfire resilience by combining Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and scientific data into practical, community\u2011driven tools and strategies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why This Program Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Indigenous communities have long stewarded the land through cultural burning, traditional knowledge, and community\u2011based practices. Yet many existing wildfire risk tools and programs do not reflect Indigenous realities, governance structures, or cultural priorities.<\/p>\n

This program fills that gap by:<\/p>\n