About the NIFSC
For us, by us
The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) Project is the result of a new Indigenous developed framework designed to support Indigenous communities in the development of their internal capacity to improve community safety and resiliency. The NIFSC Project is Indigenous inspired, designed and led in collaboration with regional and national Indigenous communities, organizations and leaders.
NIFSC Project Benefits for Indigenous Communities
Fire Prevention and Public Education
Creation of culturally-relevant programs that benefit all community members.
Community Fire Services
Support in providing a range of fire, public safety, and community infrastructure services.
Regional Support
Ensure opportunities for funding, equipment, fire prevention initiatives, and training.
Support for Governance
Provide expertise to Indigenous governance and leadership at the regional/national level.
Insurance
Support access to and rates for individual and community infrastructure insurance.
Research
Indigenous-specific research with national agencies and provincial Fire Marshal/Fire Commissioner offices.
Incident Reporting
Research to reduce fire incidents through infrastructure and data collection.
Wildfire Interface Response
Integrated community-based fire services to engage in national fire incidents.
Indigenous Fire Service Employment
Increased employment opportunities for Indigenous Peoples.
There are five main project areas:
one
Governance & Corporate Development
Will establish the NIFSC Project as an independent, Indigenous-run organization that is mandated to improve fire safety for Indigenous Peoples and communities across the country.
two
Research
Find opportunities to enhance the organization’s goals while ensuring program development is based on evidence.
three
Program Development
Work with communities to identify individual needs and develop appropriate programs.
four
Program Delivery
Test, deliver, monitor, and evaluate all programs over a two-year period.
five
National Incident Reporting System
Used to capture data, identify trends, and share fire prevention, training and standards resources, allowing for the development of programs that will have the most positive impact.
The Indigenous Fire Marshal Service (IFMS) is the delivery arm of the NIFSC. IFMS Delivery Specialists work with communities to deliver programs to meet the communities’ needs. They are fire service experts that are certified and experienced who can provide technical support and advice on program development. Delivery Specialists can directly deliver programs in communities, support communities and their members to deliver programs within their communities and support the self-delivery of selected programs.
Why do we need the NIFSC Project?
To create a national approach to fire safety in Indigenous communities. A few of the reasons that fire safety within Indigenous communities needs to be addressed are:
- There is currently no national fire protection act that mandates fire safety standards or enforcement.
- There is no mandated enforcement of occupational health and safety.
- Houses and capital infrastructure are not subject to a national building inspection process.
The Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) Created the NIFSC Project
AFAC started the NIFSC Project with the following goals:
- Create a new organization through Indigenous collaboration – for us, by us.
- Create an Indigenous governed organization whose structure receives sustainable funding to operate and serve FN communities.
- Collaborate with existing Indigenous organizations providing support to FN communities and not accept any existing funding targeted for another Indigenous organization.
- Establish standards and programs that are relevant to FN communities’ needs and (through validation) improve community safety.
- Create a national reporting system that will serve improving FN community safety.
Strategic goals and objectives are free of political influence. - Promote Indigenous fire service careers and training.
How Does the Project Work?
The NIFSC Project is responsive, meaning as a community’s capacity increases, the programs offered will become more sophisticated.
In 2019/20, the main effort of the NIFSC Project was to receive input from Indigenous communities. What we heard is that change is wanted, change is needed. The NIFSC Project team is working to bring about that change in collaboration with communities and existing organizations. The NIFSC Project team continues to reach out to constituents to seek feedback on programs as they are developed.
NIFSC Project Team
Who is involved in the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council Project?
The Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) manages the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council Project, dedicated to providing Indigenous communities with the tools needed to be healthy and safe. It is made up of a project management team and has the support of the AFAC Board of Directors, a National Advisory Committee (NAC), and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
AFAC Board of Directors
Michelle Vandevord – President & Saskatchewan Representative
Anthony Moore – Vice-President & British Columbia Representative
Allan Peters – Secretary/Treasurer & Collaboration Director
Melvin McLeod – Director & Ontario Representative
William ‘Billy’ Moffat – Director & Quebec Representative
Blaine Wiggins – Executive Director
National Advisory Committee
The role of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) is to advise the AFAC on the NIFSC Project’s governance structure, mandate, scope of authority and scope of programs and services.
Technical Advisory Committee
The role of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is to provide the NIFSC Project team with technical advice on the development and delivery of fire safety programs. It is made up of professionals working in the fire safety industry. The role of the advisory committee is to support the establishment of national indigenous fire service standards, support the direction and parameters of research, identify emerging public safety issues and provide a national forum for Indigenous fire service to collaborate and share information. The TAC is the first forum that allows all Indigenous fire service organizations to collaborate.
The National Advisory Committee members, their roles and affiliations are:
Mike Mitchell, Elder
Roberta Oshkabewisens, Elder
Erin Myers with the Metis National Council
Irving LeBlanc with the Assembly of First Nations Housing and Infrastructure
Angel Beardy, Independent Youth
Sean Vanderklis, Independent Millennial
Dan George, Independent Former Firefighter
Debbie Pierre with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en
George Cox with the Cree Nation Government
Harvey McCue with the First Nations Housing Professionals Association
Michelle Vandevord with Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management
Voting membership of the TAC is comprised of the following invited organizations:
First Nations Emergency Services Society, primary contact is Dean Colthorp
First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group Inc. (Alberta), primary contact is Vaughn Paul
Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management & Protective Services, primary contact is Michelle Vandevord
Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation, primary contact is Bryan Staats
First Nations National Building Officers Association, primary contact is Keith Maracle
Nunavut Fire Marshal, primary contact is Ted Clouter
Assembly of First Nations, primary contact is Irving Leblanc
Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada, primary contact and facilitator is Jeremy Parkin
Indigenous Services Canada, primary contact is Todd Keesey