The Métis Nation Ignite Project

Active NAPECA Project

@ Dane de Souza

Background

Métis communities across the Métis Nation (BC, AB, SK, ON) are disproportionately impacted by the effects of wildfires that are being exacerbated by climate change, while these communities have received no federal funding for emergency management. Métis culture is deeply linked to the lands, waters and skies from which we draw our identity. Putting Good Fire on the land has been a vital part of the connection between Métis communities and how we steward the environments which sustain us. Within Métis fire management lies many climate solutions that provide local and national-level wildfire resiliency and global carbon-cycling opportunities.

Goals

  • Return Good Fire to the land through Métis hands and communities.
  • Reconnect with Métis heritage and wildfire stewardship.
  • Provide a case study that incorporates all levels of government, private industry, insurance interests, and global carbon markets, to mobilize Métis wildfire stewardship as a climate solution. 

Main activities

  • Métis wildfire/EM training workshops.
  • Métis cultural burn(s) (returning Good Fire to the land).
  • Métis Wildfire Stewardship case-study development.

Expected outcomes

  • Métis cultural burn(s).
  • Métis Wildfire Stewardship case study.
  • An internationally transferrable blueprint for collaborative Indigenous Fire Stewardship initiatives.