Today is a Different Day: Exploring First Nations Emergency Preparedness in the Province of Alberta, Canada

• Author / Creator

  Polard-Yopek, Nathan Alexander

• First Nations in Canada bear disproportionate risk posed by environmental hazards. Existing literature indicates that colonization and systemic underinvestment in First Nations have historically led to low levels of preparedness. As climate change is causing the impacts of environmental hazards to grow in size, severity, and frequency – there is a critical need to examine if First Nations are prepared for hazards. This exploratory study aimed to explore First Nations preparedness by identifying the factors that positively and negatively influence First Nations preparedness in Alberta. Research data was collected using semi-structured interviews with key informants. Key informants were selected for their closeness and expertise in First Nations emergency management. Inductive and deductive coding techniques were employed to identify the strengths and challenges to First Nations preparedness. Challenges were identified from location, the lack of resources in many communities, and with communication. A key challenge for First Nations is managing knowledge and capacity challenges including the over reliance on individuals for emergency preparedness, dealing with burnout and turnover, and insufficient support from local leadership. Strengths for First Nations were strong hazardscape understanding, knowledge from past experiences, and support and empowerment from the provincial government and the Treaty organizations. A key strength to highlight are knowledgeable and capable First Nations individuals and teams improving preparedness for their communities. This study found that First Nations in Alberta are prepared for environmental hazards despite the challenges they face. The findings of this study are important because they show how as First Nations self-determination in preparedness increases, their resilience to environmental hazards increases.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • First Nations
  • Emergency Management
  • Preparedness
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Decolonization
  • Climate Change

• Graduation date

  Fall 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-wdav-tr32

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.