I recently had the opportunity to speak at the Canadian Emergency Preparedness and Climate Adaptation (CEPCA) convention in Ottawa, Ontario, on unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory where I addressed how cultural safety can be integrated into climate readiness and emergency management frameworks to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities.
As part of my master’s thesis, Cultural Safety in Emergency Support Services, I worked with 23 Indigenous emergency managers who defined cultural safety as “creating safe spaces, free from discrimination, where Indigenous people, families and communities can continue practicing their culture even when displaced.” In this approach “practitioners accompany evacuees with humility, open listening, kindness, compassion, respect and consideration for themselves and others’ mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural wellbeing.”
When it comes to climate readiness, cross-jurisdictional events require cross-jurisdictional solutions. The basis of those solutions is embedded in forging trust-based, stress-resilient relationships that center Indigenous knowledge and uphold the rights and title of Indigenous governing bodies. I’ve had the privilege of working in emergency operations centres (EOCs) at the local government and First Nations level and have spent countless hours working at the provincial and regional levels in British Columbia. I’ve come to learn that partnerships between Indigenous communities and various levels of government can lead to innovative and culturally-relevant solutions that prioritize community wellbeing, environmental stewardship and long-term resilience. But how do we transform our leadership styles to forge relationships from a place of wellbeing, inclusion and freedom?
“The key to integrating cultural safety into a climate readiness framework is to apply it from the inside out.”
Cultural safety in climate readiness and community recovery
The key to integrating cultural safety into a climate readiness framework is to apply it from the inside out. It begins on an individual level. How we lead ourselves impacts our ability to lead or accompany others. Change begins by adopting cultural safety principles into climate readiness and community recovery services.
Dr. Jessica Ball, a professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria identifies five cultural safety principles. Although her research is based in the cultural ecologies of Indigenous child development, her principles apply directly to all community-based partnerships, including those in emergency management.
I’ve been able to carry forward what I have learned over my career to support municipalities and other project partners as they apply these principles to positively engage Indigenous communities, support the preparation of climate readiness and community recovery strategies, and uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Partnerships
As climate readiness and community recovery managers, we understand the value of partnerships. We often act as social conveners, bringing different people together to support community goals and resilience. Partnerships are best approached authentically and collaboratively so we can co-construct cross-jurisdictional climate readiness strategies and solutions.
- Personal Knowledge
Your background, ancestry and personality impact how you show up in personal and professional relationships. What generational knowledge do you carry with you? What professional affiliations do you have? Present yourself authentically and apply personal knowledge to support the shared expertise that goes into capital projects and climate readiness strategies. Where you have gaps in knowledge, take responsibility for learning.
- Protocols
When I’m working with municipalities on an Indigenous community project, municipal leaders will often ask about protocol – how do we do this right? The answer is simple; ask. When collaborating with Indigenous communities it’s important to show respect, ask permission and ask questions. Come from a place of curiosity, allow multiple perspectives to stand true and be reciprocal. Free, prior and informed consent are an important part of protocol when forging stress-resilient relationships.
- Process
Collaborative, inclusive processes are essential to creating holistic climate strategies and project development. But how often do you reflect on those processes? Are they still serving the community and were they created with the right people in the room? A friend of mine at the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society once said, “Kayla, you have two ears and one mouth, use them in direct proportion.” To this day, the reminder to listen actively is something I keep top of mind. Ensure your processes reflect equity and dignity for all collaborators.
- Positive Purpose
At its core, climate readiness and community recovery is about positively impacting communities. When forging new relationships, ask yourself how you are impacting the communities you work in? Are you leaving them better? What impression are you leaving? Cultural safety in collaboration involves working together towards the same positive purpose, building on each other’s strengths, sharing confidentiality and being accountable for the role we play in communities.
Cultural safety is ultimately defined by those who receive rather than deliver service. Working towards cultural safety in climate readiness and community recovery empowers leaders to leverage supports and diverse knowledge systems. When forging stress-resilient relationships, a culturally-safe approach builds mutual trust and respect, facilitates cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and your ability to co-create innovative solutions that benefit both people and the environment. So, the next time you’re partnering with a new community or faced with a challenging decision, ask yourself a question that was first posed to me by Elaine Alec, Chief Empowerment Officer with Naqsmist Storytellers Inc., “Am I am I approaching my role from a place of fear and control or a place of love, trust and faith?”
