Indigenous peoples have been using fire for many years, in cultural and land management practices. Before colonization Indigenous communities were using controlled burning techniques to improve the conditions of berry harvesting and hunting. For example, burning off the dead grass after a season can make way for new grass to grow in its place, which will attract animals to the meadow or field. Furthermore, fire burning was a traditional family practice passed from generation to generation, with one family member transferring the role onto the next. In contrast, when European settlers arrived and began colonization, they brought fire suppression methods, causing the Indigenous practices that were used unheard of.

Impacts of wildfires on Indigenous Communities:

Despite the element of fire being a very important piece in Indigenous culture, it has become a very detrimental tool of destruction to communities across the globe. Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by natural disasters as are many minority groups. It is estimated that BIPOC individuals are 50% more likely to experience natural disasters due to socioeconomic barriers. When particular communities are affected by climate disasters it can expose pre-existing social inequalities and a lack of equity within the society. Different communities and peoples require various resources as they have particular circumstances. In most cases, the groups most affected by climate disasters are deprived of the resources they require and do not have access to what they need to recover. In addition to the scarcity of resources, many communities are not consulted upon when coming to decisions about how to handle these situations.

When it comes to Indigenous communities preparing for emergencies such as wildfires, they are often provided with inadequate funding, limited resources and a lack of support from governments and external sources. Although many First Nations are in charge of putting together a plan in case of a natural disaster, the absence of resources and support makes it extremely difficult to put together a successful evacuation plan. This can lead to communities being caught off guard by these events.

Evacuation plans:

Evacuation plans are required in climate crises to ensure the people and communities are safe despite these terrible circumstances. They are also in place because certain individuals need to be evacuated first, such as people with compromised immune systems, children, and highly respected people within the community. Many Indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected by asthma and other respiratory diseases which can be made worse by the smoke emitted by wildfires. Emergency plans help communities plan and know how to act in these situations, they can prepare a plan for their household, know when the evacuation may occur and choose survival/personal items to take with them.

Even when there are evacuation orders in place and a plan for the community, there is still a need for the government and emergency services to respond when there is a fire. Although the band council is responsible for the evacuation plan and order, the federal government is in charge of the region where the fire is. There can sometimes be a disconnect in communication between federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, resulting in a delay in response. This type of delay is detrimental to communities, putting them at risk and making them more vulnerable.

This type of added stress and vulnerability is avoidable and simply adds to the already onerous situation. The act of having to evacuate one’s home and abandon their belongings can have devastating effects on mental health. When an individual feels displaced, has to find a new home, look for a new job or school they can experience intense stress, depression and anxiety. These events can also affect culture in considerable ways. Many Indigenous communities incorporate their culture in their infrastructure and land. Hence, when these important belongings are destroyed in wildfires, a portion of the Indigenous culture is also destroyed. This feeling is heightened by the action of having to relocate to a new place, experiencing a further disconnect from the culture.

Struggles with displacement, relocation and culture:

When Indigenous peoples are forced to leave their homes and lands they are often separated in different areas, making it extremely challenging to rebuild their culture in their new areas. The traditions held in a community and the culture, become harder to continue when they are compromised due to members of the community being spread out to attend school, find new homes and search for employment. Individuals are often placed in temporary homes, hotel rooms or other areas where they can stay. These circumstances often result in people being separated from their friends and families. This can impact the future of different Indigenous cultures, as the subsequent generations cannot gain all the history and knowledge they could have from the lands and infrastructure.

Having to evacuate one’s home during a climate disaster leads to individuals being placed in temporary homes, hotel rooms or other areas where they can stay. This comes with its challenges. In certain circumstances, people are separated from their friends and families resulting in social isolation. On the other hand, many individuals are forced into crowded hotel rooms that are simply not large enough for people to live comfortably. All of this simply exaggerates the stress already put upon individuals by losing their access to traditional food, job security and education.

To minimize the stress felt by individuals who are displaced from their homes, one could attempt to ensure they are relocated to an Indigenous community or area that has similar characteristics. A possibility would be for Indigenous peoples to be relocated to another community within their traditional territory if at all possible. This can ensure that although individuals are experiencing mental stress they are not subjected to the additional stress of being relocated to a place that cannot satisfy any of their needs, cultural or not. There is a need for culturally safe approaches to the relocation and evacuation of Indigenous communities during wildfires or other climate crises. When coming up with a plan, it is necessary to identify the community’s specific culture and traditional needs and work off of that when responding. These are some ideas on how to improve the evacuation and relocation process for Indigenous communities, allowing them to stay with their community and maintaining their culture as much as possible.

Current climate and wildfire disasters:

Wildfires do not only affect Indigenous peoples in Turtle Island - many Indigenous groups living in the Amazon also experience the horrors of these disasters. Communities in the Amazon are often isolated and left to fend for themselves in light of these circumstances. Their health, homes and food sources are at risk during wildfires and they are susceptible to losing it all due to lack of preparation and resources. The Brazil environmental agency does not have the funding or equipment to help Indigenous communities fight off these blazing fires tearing through their lands.

Indigenous peoples’ health is also put on the line due to the inhalation of wildfire smoke. Some studies show, when there is an increase in deforestation there is an increase in Indigenous peoples being hospitalized.

Due to the isolated nature of these Indigenous communities in the Amazon, they often depend on the resources around them to nurture the people on the land. They use hunting and gathering techniques to survive throughout the year and when wildfires tear through their lands these practices are not possible, showing the multiple levels of destruction that wildfires cause.

The need for Indigenous practices when it comes to environmental conservation:

There is a need for reform when deciding on relocation and evacuation plans for Indigenous communities since they are experiencing wildfires at a higher rate. Indigenous peoples are 6 times more likely to live in areas where wildfires occur, meaning there needs to be more focus on the process in which these situations are handled and executed. The Indigenous community, culture and traditions need to be preserved as much as possible, to manage the damage and trauma caused by an already stressful life event. With temperatures rising in our world due to global warming and climate change in general, wildfires will become more likely in our world. That being said it is necessary to examine how wildfires affect Indigenous communities, how to help and how to improve the emergency response so it puts the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples at the forefront of thought.