Strategic Plan 2013-2015 At a Glance

FNESS evolved from the Society of Native Indian Fire Fighters of BC (SNIFF), which was established in 1986. SNIFF’s initial objectives were to help reduce the number of fire-related deaths on First Nations reserves, but it changed its emphasis to incorporate a greater spectrum of emergency services. In 1994, SNIFF changed its name to First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC to reflect the growing diversity of services it provides. Today our organization continues to gain recognition and trust within First Nations communities and within Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and other organizations. This is reflected in both the growing demand of service requests from First Nations communities and the development of more government-sponsored programs with FNESS.

r e v

Ri k

e

s

l

A

Inset 1 Tagish Lake Teslin 1059 Daylu Dena Atlin Lake 501 Taku River Tlingit r

e

v Liard Atlin Lake i R River ku 504 Dease River K Fort a e Nelson T r t 594 Ts'kw'aylaxw e c iv h R ik River 686 Bonaparte a se a 687 Skeetchestn e D Fort Nelson R

i v e First Nations in 543 Fort Nelson Dease r 685 Ashcroft Lake Dease Lake 592 Xaxli'p British Columbia 593 T'it'q'et 544 Prophet River 591 Cayoose Creek 692 Oregon Jack Creek 682 Tahltan er 683 Iskut a Riv kw r s e M u iv R Finlay F R Scale ra e n iv

s i er 610 Kwadacha

k e i

r t 0 75 150 300 Km S

694 Cook's Ferry Thutade R r Tatlatui Lake i e 609 Tsay Keh Dene v Iskut iv 547 Blueberry River e R Lake r

546 Halfway River 548 Doig River 698 Shackan Location of First Nation Community er Fort St John Riv 696 Nicomen Williston e ac e 705 Lytton Lake P City or Town N a 542 Saulteau 707 Skuppah s 699 Nooaitch s R i Takla 545 West Moberly v e 706 Siska r 532 Kispiox Lake Example: 533 Glen Vowell 608 Takla Lake 704 Kanaka Bar 677 Nisga'a Village of New Aiyansh 537 Gitanyow 531 Gitanmaax Identifier 679 Nisga'a Village of Gitwinksihlkw 534 Hagwilget 678 Nisga'a Village of Laxgalt'sap 535 Gitsegukla

671 Nisga'a Village of Gingolx Babine 618 McLeod Lake Location of

536 Gitwangakr 618 McLeod Lake e 530 Moricetown

v First Nation's 700 Boothroyd i Smithers 674 Lax Kw'alaams R Lake 617 Tl'azt'en main community 680 Kitselas Terrace 728 Yekooche Name of 673 Metlakatla a Stuart Salm een 681 Kitsumkalum on R Sk First Nation 701 Boston Bar 725 Wet'suwet'en Lake 614 Nak'azdli Prince Rupert 607 Lake Babine 669 Old Massett 619 Burns Lake 613 Stellat'en 611 Lheidli T'enneh Scale Masset 620 Cheslatta Carrier 612 Nadleh Whuten Haida 676 Haisla Francois L Fra 729 Skin Tyee ser 672 Gitxaala R 0 10 20 40Km o 615 Saik'uz Prince George Ri 726 Nee-Tahi-Buhn k ver a Ootsa L ch Ne Gwaii 675 Gitga'at 670 Skidegate Eutsuk Skidegate Lake Inset 2 721 Lhoosk'uz Dene 720 Nazko 715 Lhtako Dene 588 Union Bar Quesnel 551 Sechelt Lake 583 Chawathil C 540 Kitasoo h 709 ?Esdilagh i l 582 Skawahlook 722 Ulkatcho co t i 587 Shxw'ow'hamel n r 539 Nuxalk R e 716 Soda Creek v 559 Sts'ailes i 555 Squamish 586 Peters iv 549 Tsleil-Waututh e R Bella Coola r 568 Scowlitz 581 Seabird Island 538 Heiltsuk 710 Alexis Creek Williams Lake n

560 Kwikwetlem 584 Cheam 719 Williams Lake o VANCOUVER s

F aser 570 Shxwhá:y Village 585 Popkum Contents p 550 Musqueam r 579 Leq'a: mel 712 Tl'etinqox-t'in 718 Toosey River 573 Skwah ho m 563 Katzie 717 Yunesit'in T 580 Kwaw-kwaw-Apilt 574 Squiala 713 Canim Lake 566 New Westminster 564 Kwantlen 558 Aitchelitz 541 Oweekeno/Wuikinuxv 711 Esk'etemc 648 Snuneymuxw 571 Skowkale 723 Stswecem'c Xgat'tem 565 Matsqui 576 Yakweakwioose

572 Soowahlie h t

r 691 Simpcw C 575 Tzeachten 714 Xeni Gwet'in o At a Glance olu 577 Tsawwassen 578 Sumas N Shuswap m 646 Lyackson b 569 Semiahmoo Chilko Lake ia 641 Chemainus 703 High Bar 2 Lake 702 Whispering Pines/Clinton Inset 1 R iv 650 Penelakut 689 Little Shuswap Lake e 632 Tlatlasikwala 627 Gwawaenuk 636 Dzawada'enuxw r 590 Bridge River 684 Adams Lake 605 Shuswap 645 Halalt 724 Gwa'sala-Nakwaxda'xw 626 Kwakiutl L 595 Seton Lake 690 Neskonlith Upper ill Kamloops E oo F Arrow 604 ?Akisq'nuk e r l Executive Director’s Port Hardy 625 Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis t a 688 Tk'emlúps te 600 Splatsin k s R e Lake R 633 Quatsino r i 637 Tlowitsis Secwépemc 616 Okanagan v 556 N'Quatqua e 631 Namgis r 642 Cowichan Message 628 Kwiakah 695 Lower Nicola 629 Mamalilikulla-Qwe'Qwa'Sot'Em 635 Da'naxda'xw 697 Upper Nicola R r Scale 557 Mount Currie e i Okanagan v Vancouver v i e 553 Klahoose R 3 567 Samahquam r 693 Coldwater Lake 655 Tseycum 0 12.5 25 50 Km 638 Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' 622 Campbell River 647 Malahat 623 Cape Mudge 562 Skatin Kelowna Lower 602 St. Mary's

e 652 Pauquachin 554 Sliammon l Arrow Kootenay 639 Nuchatlaht 552 Homalco t Nelson 601 Westbank t 561 Douglas e Lake Lake 653 Tsartlip 654 Tsawout 634 Ehattesaht Island 708 Spuzzum K Strategic 630 Mowachaht/Muchalaht 624 K'ómoks 589 Yale 597 Penticton 603 Tobacco Plains Inset 2 S 651 Qualicum i am 606 Lower Kootenay 664 Hupacasath m ilk e 551 Sechelt e 599 Upper Similkameen 644 Esquimalt Foundation 661 Hesquiaht 665 Tseshaht n VICTORIA 649 Nanoose R 596 Osoyoos Port Alberni Nanaimo iver 656 Songhees 659 Ahousaht 598 Lower Similkameen 657 T'Sou-ke 4 648 Snuneymuxw VANCOUVER 660 Tla-o-qui-aht 641 Stz'uminus 640 Beecher Bay 666 Toquaht 668 Ucluelet 662 Ditidaht 667 Uchucklesaht Strategic Goals 663 Huu-ay-aht 643 Lake Cowichan April 3, 2013 658 Pacheedaht CIDMS #1909804 and Objectives VICTORIA 5 Map courtesy of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

2 I First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia | Strategic Plan 2013-2015 Executive Director’s Message

During the past fiscal funding year of 2012/13, communities working with the FNESS organization totalled 163, which is a successful level of engagement that should not be overlooked. In addition, membership continues to grow. However, as identified within this strategic document, more outreach and engagement are necessary as FNESS continues to strive to meet our First Nations communities’ needs, helping to build capacity from a First Nations governance perspective. These programs include:

• Fire training, education, prevention, and support; Chris Wong • Emergency community planning, preparedness, response, and recovery; Executive Director • Forest fuel management; and • Leadership and governance. Our programs aim to build professional capacity and assist First Nations communities toward self-governance. Our prevention programs are keys to saving lives, reducing potential for injuries, and increasing the overall safety of communities. Further, we build professional capacity, both short- and long-term. Development of a Community Emergency Plan better ensures that the community and members will react to an emergency situation and overcome it with as little impact, loss of life or injury as can be expected given the type of event and their specific situation. The development of a Community Emergency Plan will be a tool that helps build capacity and assists the First Nation towards self-governance. FNESS also fills a gap for these services and programs as there is no other First Nations service organization in BC doing this work while maintaining strong community relations and cultural perspectives. FNESS identifies our strategy for developing our own source-funding through partnerships with for-profit organizations, and we are now a registered charity. This is an essential step in order to meet the demands and requests of our communities, and it requires considerable commitment from FNESS and support from others. To better serve our communities, FNESS continues to adapt as needed, with our mandate as displayed within this strategic plan being our overriding focus that keeps us on target. The overwhelming support from First Nations communities, First Nations organizations, our current and future members, and our staff gives us a strong platform moving forward into the next two years. This strategic plan will be reviewed annually, ensuring all voices and needs are clearly represented for the future.

Strategic Plan 2013-2015 | First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia I 3 Strategic Foundation

Constitution Vision

1. The name of the Society is FIRST NATIONS’ EMERGENCY Safe and Healthy First Nations Communities SERVICES SOCIETY OF B.C.

2. The purposes of the Society are to: Mission a) Provide rural First Nations communities with assistance to develop emergency preparedness and response plans; FNESS serves First Nations in developing and sustaining safer and healthier communities through: b) Provide training to rural First Nations communities with • Emergency planning, training, response, and recovery; regard to fire services, forest fuel management, and • Fire training, education, and prevention; related emergency events; • Forest fuel and wildfire Management; and c) Provide rural First Nations communities with internet • Leadership and collaborative relationships. access to allow for increased access to emergency, health, educational, and other government services;

d) Advance education by providing information on Values fire safety, emergency preparedness, and forest fuel Courage management to rural First Nations communities; and Strength and curiosity while determining the most beneficial e) Do all such things as are ancillary and incidental to the actions with communities. attainment of the purposes of the Society. Honesty 3. The activities and purposes of the Society must be Open and transparent environments in all actions. carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and Integrity any income, profits, or other accretions must be used Consistent and accountable for all actions, assessing and to promote the purposes of the Society. This provision adapting as needed. is unalterable. . Passion Acknowledging enthusiasm and initiative; rewarding Board Governance success regularly.

Respect Our Society is governed by a Board of Directors comprising Inclusiveness & teamwork that allows fairness, First Nations individuals who live in communities throughout balance, and harmony in all activities; appreciative of the province of British Columbia and who are elected by all cultural diversities. our Society’s members. The core function of our Board is to ensure that our Society upholds its adopted Mission Trustworthiness Statement in accordance with its adopted Constitution and Providing credible and state-of-the-art recognized services. By-Laws, and to ensure the financial viability of the Society.

4 I First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia | Strategic Plan 2013-2015 Goals and Objectives

Actions We Undertake Are Community-Driven

GOAL 1 – Effective short-term risk mitigation

Objectives Year 1 Year 2

Awareness • Promote awareness of FNESS within communities and leadership • Provide awareness sessions regarding issues affecting communities including technical sessions, expo, and other events

Training • Develop and maintain skills programs to enhance community capacity • Deliver programs that build professional capacity and assist First Nations toward self-governance

Prevention • Build and maintain operational processes that focus on prevention and mitigation with communities • Develop community safety plans with communities and incorporate as an integral part of comprehensive community planning

Planning, • Support effective emergency response within existing provincial frameworks Response and • Negotiate funding model for FNESS to supply emergency response Recovery • Implement FNESS response model including duty officer roles

Accreditation • Secure resource material rights for FNESS deliveries • Negotiate transfer use agreement with certificate authority agent(s) • Deliver under auspices of certificate authority agent(s) • Deliver stand alone for certification

Management and • Develop and maintain IT plan that embraces innovation and adapts Advisory Support to future needs • Identify and utilize modern communications tools

C ommunity Needs • Develop and implement needs assessment process(es) Assessments • Identify current employment needs within communities • Ensure all communities are engaged and informed of prevention risks and priorities

Strategic Plan 2013-2015 | First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia I 5 Goals and Objectives

Actions We Undertake Are Community-Driven

GOAL 2 – Effective long-term professional capacity development and sustainability

Objectives Year 1 Year 2

Governance • Develop business planning process and implementation schedule • Strengthen ties between the strategic plan and staff performance plans • Monitor and assess organizational structure on an ongoing basis • Strengthen FNESS communications strategy • Update HR Policy on a biannual basis • Build upon leadership and governance outreach to First Nations Chiefs, councils, and Managers

Train-The-Trainers • Provide leading training services for community capacity building • Provide and encourage mentorship opportunities

GOAL 3 – Optimum membership and support

Objectives Year 1 Year 2

Sustainability • Provide membership information to communities regularly

Building • Develop cross-departmental plan to ensure effectiveness of Membership membership drives • Monitor effectiveness of membership drives; revise as necessary • Strive to continuously add value to membership

6 I First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia | Strategic Plan 2013-2015 Goals and Objectives

Actions We Undertake Are Community-Driven

GOAL 4 – Qualified FNESS organizational capacity

Objectives Year 1 Year 2

Strengthening • Promote First Nations protocol awareness Cultural Focus • Enhance First Nations staffing while maintaining cultural diversity • Engage in meaningful policy and legislative change • Utilize a casual employee model to enhance provincial outreach

Expertise • Enhance career development planning for staff; focus on leadership roles • Ensure ongoing review of job descriptions for relevancy and accuracy • Maintain environment that encourages engagement, innovation and high performance • Attend to succession planning needs

Professionalism • Define framework for quality assurance and continuous improvement • Ensure financial management and reporting continuously meets standards • Ensure inventory of facilities, capital, and replacement priorities are defined • Ensure ongoing improvement of comprehensive safety programs

GOAL 5 – Leading Business Development

Objectives Year 1 Year 2

Own-Source • Secure registered charity status Funding • Seek individual and business donors • Seek and secure foundational grant-funding opportunities • Strengthen FNESS fee-for-service model; pursue opportunities • Identify proposal development officer (funding-dependent)

Partnerships • Deliver effective and consistent communications • Build upon existing funding successes while pursuing sustainable funding • Pursue opportunities among all First Nations groups including nationally and internationally • Pursue opportunities to collaborate and build public/private sector agreements • Seek coordinated, partnership, and strategic alliance approaches

Strategic Plan 2013-2015 | First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia I 7 First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia

Head Office 102 – 70 Orwell Street, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3R5 Canada Tel 604.669.7305 | Fax 604.669.9832 | Toll Free 1.888.822.3388 Email [email protected] | Web www.fness.bc.ca

Forest Fuel Management Office 712 Mount Paul Way, Kamloops, BC V2H 1B5 Canada Tel 250.377.7600 | Fax 250.377.7610 | Toll Free 1.888.388.4431 Email [email protected] | Web www.fness.bc.ca