The Sierra Fund is now doing business as: Indigenous Futures Society!

Expanding Indigenous-Led Climate & Emergency Disaster Preparedness in the Sierra: A Collaborative Initiative with FNESS

November 25, 2024

Wildfire is a naturally occurring and vital part of our ecosystems and has become increasingly frequent, intense, and destructive in California. With climate change exacerbating past problematic forest management and wildfires intensifying, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of both the challenges and the solutions. Many tribal lands have not received the support that other lands have for creating fire defensible space, have been prevented from conducting cultural burning, and are now most at risk of extreme fire. Tribal forest guardianship, including cultural burning, has been proven to reduce fire intensity and create healthier, more diverse and resilient forests for everyone.

The Sierra Fund, in partnership with the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and UC Davis, is supporting Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada region of California to start a program that will support Tribes in building their fire prevention programs, disaster preparedness training, and emergency response plans tailored to the unique needs of their tribe. The first step has been bringing FNESS to Sierra tribes to build their decision support tools that are  foundational to building these programs, trainings, and plans.  The initiative integrates Indigenous wisdom with emergency management strategies to build climate resilience, focusing on wildfire preparedness and response and cultural fire stewardship.

The First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) is a native-led non-profit organization in Canada that supports First Nation communities in preparing for and responding to emergencies and disasters. FNESS provides specialized services, training, and resources to enhance community safety and resilience, particularly in the areas of fire protection, emergency management, and environmental health. Their work focuses on establishing tools and resources within Indigenous communities to manage risks, respond to emergencies, and recover effectively. This includes offering fire prevention programs, disaster preparedness training, and assistance with developing emergency response plans tailored to the unique needs of First Nations.

A successful Sierra collaboration launched in 2024 to bring the British Columbia Indigenous-led emergency preparedness and response model down to California. The collaboration started with Greenville Rancheria, Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, UC Davis, and FNESS, and is supported by the Aggie Climate Action for Equity (ACE) grant program. They created and trained Tribal practitioners in using Indigenous-centered data platforms that support tribal emergency management programs, trainings, and planning.  This decision support tool also supports other Tribal land management and guardianship activities. Earlier this month representatives of the collaborative traveled to British Columbia to be trained and learn more about the programs and tools from FNESS in person.

Building on this success, the collaboration is integrating The Sierra Fund to help expand its reach, bringing Indigenous-led disaster preparedness strategies to more Tribes in the Sierra Nevada. By centering Indigenous knowledge and leadership in climate and disaster preparedness, this initiative aims to create a more equitable, sustainable, and fire-resilient future for all.

Expanding Indigenous-Led Climate & Emergency Disaster Preparedness in the Sierra: A Collaborative Initiative with FNESS

Wildfire is a naturally occurring and vital part of our ecosystems and has become increasingly frequent, intense, and destructive in California. With climate change exacerbating past problematic forest management and wildfires intensifying, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of both the challenges and the solutions. Many tribal lands have not received the support that other lands have for creating fire defensible space, have been prevented from conducting cultural burning, and are now most at risk of extreme fire. Tribal forest guardianship, including cultural burning, has been proven to reduce fire intensity and create healthier, more diverse and resilient forests for everyone.

The Sierra Fund, in partnership with the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and UC Davis, is supporting Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada region of California to start a program that will support Tribes in building their fire prevention programs, disaster preparedness training, and emergency response plans tailored to the unique needs of their tribe. The first step has been bringing FNESS to Sierra tribes to build their decision support tools that are  foundational to building these programs, trainings, and plans.  The initiative integrates Indigenous wisdom with emergency management strategies to build climate resilience, focusing on wildfire preparedness and response and cultural fire stewardship.

The First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) is a native-led non-profit organization in Canada that supports First Nation communities in preparing for and responding to emergencies and disasters. FNESS provides specialized services, training, and resources to enhance community safety and resilience, particularly in the areas of fire protection, emergency management, and environmental health. Their work focuses on establishing tools and resources within Indigenous communities to manage risks, respond to emergencies, and recover effectively. This includes offering fire prevention programs, disaster preparedness training, and assistance with developing emergency response plans tailored to the unique needs of First Nations.

A successful Sierra collaboration launched in 2024 to bring the British Columbia Indigenous-led emergency preparedness and response model down to California. The collaboration started with Greenville Rancheria, Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, UC Davis, and FNESS, and is supported by the Aggie Climate Action for Equity (ACE) grant program. They created and trained Tribal practitioners in using Indigenous-centered data platforms that support tribal emergency management programs, trainings, and planning.  This decision support tool also supports other Tribal land management and guardianship activities. Earlier this month representatives of the collaborative traveled to British Columbia to be trained and learn more about the programs and tools from FNESS in person.

Building on this success, the collaboration is integrating The Sierra Fund to help expand its reach, bringing Indigenous-led disaster preparedness strategies to more Tribes in the Sierra Nevada. By centering Indigenous knowledge and leadership in climate and disaster preparedness, this initiative aims to create a more equitable, sustainable, and fire-resilient future for all.