ABORIGINAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 1 The Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) was formed in 1991 and officially incorporated on May 4, 1995. AFAC is formally recognized and supported by the Assembly of (AFN) through Resolution 18-92 Recognition of an Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) and Resolution 33-94 Creation of an AFN Chiefs’ Committee on Fire and Emergency Services.

AFAC is a non-political, non-profit service organization comprised of regional organizations with membership in fire and emergency-related services from First Nations communities across Canada.

Vision statement

“Working together to improve fire safety in all Aboriginal/First Nations communities across Canada to protect and enhance the quality of life, health and safety.”

Our mission

To unite First Nations fire and emergency service organizations through a national association to achieve the following:

1. Enhance fire prevention on First Nations reserves across Canada by delivering fire prevention programs, liaising with fire prevention organizations, promoting NFPA standards, and enhancing research.

2. Promote the evolution of a National Fire Protection framework on reserve and utilizing industry standard building and fire codes.

3. Support the development of fire service operations standards for on-reserve fire services.

4. Provide national coordination for First Nations fire services and emergency services.

5. Coordinate efforts with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to meet the objectives defined in the joint national fire strategy.

2 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Table of Contents

Executive Directors Report 4

Board of Directors 5

Annual General Meeting 5

Corporate Office 5

AFAC Programs and Projects 6

National Firefighting Competition 6

National Poster Campaign 7

National Fire Service Collaboration and Engagement 9 Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs 9 Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation 9 National Fire Prevention Association 9 Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners 9 Assembly of First Nations 9 National Joint Fire Protection Strategy 9

NIFSC Project 10 Engagement 10 Working Group and Technical Services Groups 14 Program Development 16 National Advisory Committee 18 Conference and Trade Show Participation 20 Communications 21

Operating Budget 23

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 3 Executive Directors Report

April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was another busy and productive year for the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada.

This year was the 30th anniversary of the National Firefighting Competition which, along with our Annual General Meeting, was hosted by Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia. We continued our collaboration with national fire organizations to ensure active knowledge transfer. Our National Poster Campaign encouraged schools to learn about fire safety using the NFPA Fire Prevention week messaging.

Much of our work this year was focused on the Indigenous Fire Marshal Office project. We completed the planned technical and community engagement sessions to gather information about the programs that are needed and to understand some of the legislative and organizational considerations. Building from research, engagement findings, and our work with regional service providers we began the work to develop a suite of programs to meet the needs of Indigenous communities across the country.

During February and March 2020, we adapted our planned approach to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having worked virtually as a national organization we were able to leverage our existing IT infrastructure to continue operations in a virtual format.

It is an honour to continue serving AFAC in our work to support safer communities.

Blaine Wiggins Executive Director

4 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Board of Directors

As at March 31, 2020

Vacant – President Jerry Anilniliak – Vice President & Territories Representative Allan Peters – Secretary / Treasurer & Atlantic Representative Leon Smallboy – Director & Representative Michelle Vandevord – Director & Representative William Moffat – Director & Quebec Representative Melvin McLeod – Director & Representative Anthony Moore – Director & Representative Blaine Wiggins – Executive Director

Annual General Meeting

Friday August 16, 2019 Sarah Denny Memorial Cultural Centre, Eskasoni NS

Corporate Office

12411 Dawson Place Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2L6 [email protected] 1(250) 267 2579

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 5 AFAC Programs and Projects

National Firefighting Competition

The National Firefighting Competition was hosted by Eskasoni First Nation in New Brunswick on August 17, 2019.

The Eskasoni community of 4,500 people is very enthusiastic about sharing views of Mi’kmaq life. The teams toured Goat Island and participated in a variety of cultural activities. Throughout our time in the community, our hosts showcased their plentiful and delicious food culture.

Firefighting training was generously provided by AréoFeu and included auto extrication using a variety of equipment and techniques.

The competition evolutions were drawn at the captain’s meeting:

1. Bucket Target Relay 2. Bucket Brigade 3. Breathing Apparatus & Bucket Walk 4. High Flow Knockdown 5. Tiebreaker – Bucket Target Throwdown Showdown

For this 30th anniversary year, to recognize and celebrate the commitment of our volunteer firefighters, the AFAC Board of Directors chose to award all teams the title of champion.

The Regional teams competing were:

> BC – Saik’uz > Alberta – Fort McKay > Saskatchewan – Fond du Lac > – Cross Lake > Ontario – Chippewas of the Thames > Quebec – Kawawachikamach > Atlantic – Elsipogtog > Nunavut – Regional Team

6 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Regional teams at the National Firefighting Competition

National Poster Campaign Not every hero wears a cape Plan and Practice your Escape The annual poster campaign enables AFAC to engage First Nations communities and bring awareness of the annual Fire Prevention Week campaign held in October each year. AFAC adopts the annual NFPA theme; the 2019 theme was “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape and Practice Your Escape.”

Packages were mailed to every band office and band or federally operated First Nations school. Students were invited to create their own original artwork or colour the poster provided. We received responses from all over the country. The AFAC Board directed the judging process for the national contest and prizes. Submissions were received www.ifmo.ca/afac-apac/national-poster-contest [email protected]

Name: School:

by all regions and FNESS regional Grade: Province:

Parent or legal guardian name:

winners. A total of 67 schools (plus BC Telephone number: Regional Winners) submitted entries to the contest.

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 7 AFAC 2019 National Poster Campaign Results

CATEGORY PLACE ARTIST SCHOOL PRIZE Kindergarten Class Kikendaasogamig School – Chrome Book – Multi-Media Poster Elementry School – Laptop 1 ON Class Prize – Vivo Flip Book & 128 GB iPad Sloane Thompson Akwesasne Mohawk Prize – x 2 Fire HD8 Tablet Category 1 Multi-Media 2 and Aubrey Gray- School – ON Benedict Savannah Desjarlais Le Goff School – AB School – Chrome Book 1 Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad Kira Lazare Akwesasne Mohawk Prize – 128 GB iPad 2

School – ON Clara Brule Oski Pasikoniwew Prize – 64 GB iPad Kamik Bigstone 3 Community School –

Grade K-2 Grade AB Category 2 Kaziah Wright- Muskoday First Prize – 32 GB iPad 4 Musaskapoe Nations Community School – SK Sagen Groulx Laura McKenzie Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 Learning Centre – ON Jayde Nickel NeqWeyqwelsten School – Chrome Book 1 School – BC Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad

2 Eva Janvier-Collins Le Goff School – AB Prize – 128 GB iPad

3 Justice Murray Le Goff School – AB Prize – 64 GB iPad Grade 3-5 Grade

Category 3 Sydney Wilson Muskoday First Prize – 32 GB iPad 4 Nations Community School – SK Katie Gladue Oski Pasikoniwew Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 Kamik School – AB TigerLily Morris Yagan Nukiy School School – Chrome Book 1 – BC Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad

Mikehla Omand Otter Nelson River Prize – 128 GB iPad 2 School – MB Ania Pladzyk Laura McKenzie Prize – 64 GB iPad 3 Learning Centre – ON Grade 6–8Grade Category 4 4 Brady Houle Le Goff School – AB Prize – 32 GB iPad

Breyanna McKay Michikan Lake School Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 –ON

8 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 National Fire Service Collaboration and Engagement

AFAC partners with national fire organizations to identify trends related to fire safety issues and ensure information exchange and collaboration between mainstream fire service and First Nations communities. We seek to provide education to mainstream organizations regarding First Nations community challenges.

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) mission is to promote the highest CCFMFC is a recognized and trusted source standard of public safety in an ever changing of national leadership and knowledge for fire and increasingly complex world to ensure the safety issues and in support of emergency protection of the public through leadership, resilience across Canada. This relationship advocacy, and active collaboration with key supports AFAC’s desire for a cohesive and stakeholders. consistent national approach to fire service issues and concerns. Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Assembly of First Nations The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation is dedicated to honouring Canada’s fallen AFAC works to build awareness of the firefighters. AFAC is proud to participate National Fire Prevention Strategy and our each year in the Canadian Firefighters programs and services by reaching out to Memorial and to support First Nations fire the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) both departments in submitting applications for regionally and nationally. recognition of Line of Duty Deaths (LODD). National Joint Fire Protection Strategy National Fire Prevention Association AFAC supports and partners with both ISC Membership of the National Fire Prevention and regional organizations to implement, Association (NFPA) provides access to a promote, and enhance a renewed national network of resources and industry expertise. strategy. The goal of the National Fire Protection Strategy is to provide a foundation for the reduction of loss of life and property due to fire incidents on reserve.

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 9 Indigenous Fire Marshal Office (IFMO) Project

Engagement

The engagement focus for 2019/20 was to solicit input from technical experts, and then from communities. We scheduled five technical and eight community engagement sessions:

Technical Sessions

July 30 – , SK August 1 – Edmonton, AB August 16 – Eskasoni, NS August 27 – Quebec City, QC August 29 – Thunder Bay, ON

Community Sessions

October 17 – Moncton, NB October 22 – Quebec City, QC October 24 – Thunder Bay, ON October 29 – , MB November 5 – Saskatoon, SK November 7 – Edmonton, AB November 19 – Prince George, BC Community engagement session in Prince George, BC November 21 – Nanaimo, BC

Participation was open to all First Nations communities, First Nations technical services groups, national and regional political groups (such as AFN, UBCIC, FSIN, Chiefs of Ontario, Tribal councils, etc.), and First Nations organizations such as friendship centres.

Project communications actively promoted the engagement through the website, social media, and direct mail campaigns. Our in-person activities included presentations to political groups and booths at trade shows. We directly contacted 1,181 unique organizations, communities, and individuals with information about the project and extending an invitation to participate.

10 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 A total of 172 participants A total of 287 participants attended the technical attended the community engagement sessions: engagement sessions:

SESSION ATTENDEES SESSION ATTENDEES Edmonton, AB 27 Moncton, NB 31 Saskatoon, SK 31 Quebec City, QC 24 Thunder Bay, ON 38 Thunder Bay, ON 48 Quebec City, QC 23 Winnipeg, MB 46 Eskasoni, NS 53 Saskatoon, SK 54 TOTAL 172 Edmonton, AB 32 Prince George, BC 35 Nanaimo, BC 17 TOTAL 287

Community engagement session in Saskatoon, SK

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 11 Organizations and communities who participated in the engagement sessions:

Abegweit First Nation Kahkewistahaw First Nation Adams Lake Cumberland House Kasabonika Lake First AFAC Board of NB Nation Nation AFN Alberta CVFSA Kawacatoos First Nation Ahousat First Nation AKRC Tha First Nation Kiashke Zaaging Ditidaht First Nation Anishinaabek Gull Bay First Nation Ditidaht First Nation Port Alexander First Nation Fire Kingfisher Lake First Nation Department Alberni KO Chiefs Ontario Anishinaabek First Nation Eabametoong First Nation Kwadacha Nation Batchewna First Nation Ebb and Flow Fire Department Kwikwasut’inuxw Beardy’s & Okemasis First Haxwa’mis First Nation Nation Elsipogtog First Nation Lac Brochet First Nation Big Grassy First Nation Ermineskin Creek Nation Big Island First Nation Eskasoni First Nation LacSeul First Nation Fire #118 File Hill Qu’appelle Tribal Council Cheif Big River First Nation New Brunswick Fire Lake Babine Binche Keyho Bu Society Marshal Lantz / Acadia First Nation Binche Whut’en Fire Prevention Officer Laxgalts’ap First Nation Black Lake First Nation Fishing Lake First Nation Little Black Bear’s Band Fishing Lake Metis Little Red River Cree Nation Tribal Council Settlement Long Lake #58 First Nation Blood Tribe FNESS Bloodvein River FNTSC Luis Bull Boothroyd Band Fond Du Lac Maskwacis Boston Bar First Nation Fraser Lake First Nation Matachewan FN First Bouctouche First Nation FSIN Nation Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Ft. Francis Metis Mataw First Nation Buckley-Nechako G4 Tsuut’wa First Nation Managment Buffalo Point First Nation George Gordon First Nation Mataw First Nation Tribal Council Buffalo River Dene Nation Gitanmaax First Nation McLeod Lake First Nation Bunibonibee Gitlaxt’aamiks Meadow Lake Tribal Council Burnt Church Gold River Reserve/Acadia First Nation Metis Association of Canoe Lake Cree Nation Alberta Hacket Lake First Nation Cat Lake First Nation Metis Nation of Alberta Hagwilget Chateh Metlakatla First Nation Haisla Nation Chawathil First Nation Halalt First Nation Community SO Mushkakegowuk Council Constance Lake 92 Indian Island First Nation Moosefactory Cote First Nation IInterlake Tribal Council Muskoday Band First Nation Couchiching First Nation Ishkoday Fire Prevention Iskut First Nation

12 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Muskowpetung Poplar River First Nation Tabique First Nation Naotkamegwanning First Poplar River Takla First Nation Nation Prince Albert Grand Council Nautsa Mawt Tribal Council Rainy River First Nation (Split Lake) Nekaneet Cree Nation Red Earth Nisga’a Villiage Of Roseau River Anishinabe The Confederacy Of Gitwinksihlkw First Nation Mainland Mi’qmac Nishnawbe Aski Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation Thunder Bay First Nation Nisichawayasihk Cree Saddle Lake First Nation Tl’azt’en FN First Nation Nation Tl’azt’en Nation Nokkiwin Tribal Council Tootinaowaziibe Saikuz First Nation NorQuest College Tootinaowaziibeeng San Lake First Nation Northwest Angle Ontana Touchwood Agency Council TSAG Saugeen First Nation O-Chi-chack ko s Tsuut’ina Nation Sheshatshiu Innu First O-pipon-na-piwi Nation United Chiefs Central Manitoulin Ochapawache Nation Shibogama First Nation Office of the Fire Marshal Technical Services Waabnoong Bernjawang First Nation OFNTSC Shoal River Okanagan Indian Band Wauzhushk Onigum Nation Simpcw First Nation Waycobah Okanesse First Nation Six Nations Fire and We’koqma’k Emergency Services West Region Tribal Council Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management Wet’suwet’en Nation Pabineau First Nation Skownan First Nation Whitebear First Nation Souix Valley First Nation Wildcat Reserve/Acadia PLennox St Mary’s First Nation First Nation Penelakut First Nation St Theresa’s Point Williams Lake Indian Band Penticton Indian Band Xaxli’p First Nation PFN Stzuminusnation First Yellowhead Tribal Council Nation Yellowquill First Nation Pictu Landing First Nation Suder Creek First Nation Tribal Council Sukcer Creek First Nation

The National Advisory Committee reviewed the engagement in its entirety and determined that the work was comprehensive and complete. They advised that the project should proceed with developing the programs and entity to reflect the engagement recommendations.

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 13 Working Group and Technical Services Groups

Technical Services Groups (TSGs)

The technical services groups are regional and national organizations funded to deliver programs and services to Indigenous communities. We held regular teleconferences to ensure dynamic two-way communication on all project activities. The invited organizations and individuals are:

> Assembly of First Nations, Housing and > First Nations National Building Officers Infrastructure-Bing LeBlanc Association-Keith Maracle & John > AFN Quebec & Labrador-Guy Latouche Kriedowski > Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations > AFN Manitoba Regional Chief -Kevin Hart Chiefs-James McKinnon > Federation of Sovereign Indigenous > Ontario First Nations Technical Services Nations-Kevin McLeod & Cary O’Soup Corporation-Melanie Debassige > First Nations Housing & Infrastructure > First Nations Emergency Services Society Council-Jim Munroe of BC-Brent Langlois > Kebaowek First Nation-Lance Hammond > Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency > North Shore Mi’kmaq Development Management-Richard Kent Council-Tyler Patles > First Nations Technical Services Advisory > Yorkton Tribal Council-Bonnie Osland Group Inc.-Vaughn Paul > Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs-John Paul

February 2020 working group meeting in Ottawa, ON

14 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Working Group

The working group met in October 2019 and February 2020

Invitees:

> AFAC: Arnold Lazare, Blaine Wiggins > Indigenous Services Canada: Todd Keesey, Monty Moudgil, Natalka Cmoc > NFPA: Shayne Mintz > Nunavut Fire Marshal: Ted Cloutier > CAFC: Tina Saryedinne > AFN Housing and Infrastructure: Irving Leblanc > CCFMFC: Michael Lewis > FNESS: Brent Langlois, Dean Colthorp > DND: Fire Marshal Lt. Col. Lee Goodman > TSAG: Vaughn Paul > OFNTSC: Melanie Debassige > FNBOA: Keith Maracle, John Kiedrowski > Government of Nunavut Fire Marshal: Ted Clouter The working group provides technical oversight. Topics reviewed during their meetings included:

> Technical engagement outcomes > Community engagement questions > Organization structure and resource options > Risk prioritization through data validation > Incident database update and FIRE system > Community fire safety assessments and community risk reduction > Standardized programs and services > Program research and development

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 15 Program Development

The Indigenous Fire Marshal Office project program delivery resources undertook a number of activities summarized below:

1. Community Fire Safety Assessment > Work was undertaken to complete an environmental scan of existing assessment programs and develop a draft assessment template. This was evaluated against a recently introduced ISC assessment tool and subjected to a proof of concept validation, which was used to finalize the template for use in 2020–21.

2. Inventory of Existing Fire Service Programs and Services > Through an environmental scan conducted across Canada, a preliminary inventory was developed for programs and services that are currently provided or capable of being provided for Indigenous communities. These range from fire prevention/ public education programs through to fire suppression training. Work will continue to add to this as a resource for communities.

3. National Incident Database > A memorandum of understanding has been entered into with the BC government to create an Indigenous fire reporting database based on the existing provincial system. System components were validated, and work is underway to stand up a working system for the purpose of evaluating its ability to meet First Nations requirements.

4. Engagement Session Feedback Analysis > The results of the community and technical services national engagement sessions from 2018 through 2019 were analyzed to identify which programs and services should be considered by the IFMO for early program delivery, based upon how frequently each was identified as important or requested.

5. Home Fire Safety Assessment > An existing draft indigenous home fire safety assessment template was acquired and subjected to a proof of concept validation process and the results were used to finalize the template for program delivery use in 2020–21.

16 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 6. Fire Department Assessment > An existing draft Indigenous fire department assessment template was acquired and subjected to a proof of concept validation process and the results were used to finalize the template for program delivery use in 2020–21.

7. Programs Research > The project also examined the Amber’s Fire Safety Campaign for its potential as an IFMO program, as well as researching potential templates for community risk reduction planning work.

8. Statistical Research1 > Research has been done to examine the feasibility of creating new baselines for examining fire-related incidents and consequences (mortality and morbidity) among Indigenous communities in Canada. This will identify what additional data or information might be available to provide contextual information for assessing any potential interventions and identify any gaps that may exist in what data is currently available.

9. Fire Department Registry > Preliminary work was undertaken to compile information on the locations of existing Indigenous fire departments to create a national registry and contact database.

10. Codes and Standards Survey > A survey was created and is underway with randomly selected First Nations communities to ascertain the general level of understanding around codes and standards. This will help to inform what information may need to be shared with communities in advance of considering the various types of codes and standards that are related to fire safety and protection.

1Note: Research will be a branch that is separate from program delivery in 2020

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 17 Proof of Concept Deliveries

We visited communities to perform proof of concept deliveries of the Home Safety Assessment (HSA) and Fire Department Assessment (FDA) programs. Feedback from this work will inform the final program design.

> February 24–25/20 FDA/HSA Community Visits – Lower Nicola & Ashcroft Indian Band, BC > February 27–28/20 FDA/ HSA Community Visits – Chawathil Indian Band, BC > February 18/20 FDA/ HSA Community Visits – Rocky Bay & Red Rock First Nations, ON > February 21–22/20 FDA/ HSA Community Visits – Chippewa of the Thames & Oneida of the Thames First Nations, ON > March 9–11/20 FDA/ HSA Community Visits – Lac Seul First Nations, ON

National Advisory Committee

The NAC’s role is to advise the AFAC on the IFMO governance structure, mandate, scope of authority, and scope of programs and services.

The NAC will make recommendations on the development of a governance structure that honours Traditional Knowledge, consensus, and participatory decision making. The hope is that the NAC will inspire other Indigenous organizations to create governance models that work for them, including those that incorporate Indigenous perspectives and models of well-being— models that are ‘for us, by us.’

The inaugural meeting of the Indigenous Fire Marshall Office project National Advisory Committee (NAC) took place in Ottawa on Thursday October 10, 2019. The NAC initial agenda focused on understanding the project background, reviewing the technical engagement session findings, reviewing the plan for the community engagement sessions, and developing the committee’s terms of reference. A key outcome of the meeting was to revise the language and existing IFMO/AFAC documentation to ensure inclusiveness of all Indigenous groups by using the term Indigenous rather than First Nations.

18 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 The second meeting took place in Ottawa on January 7 and 8, 2020. The plan for the community engagement sessions was examined in depth, options for the governance models for the new entity were explored, and the terms of reference document was expanded.

During the third meeting held in Gatineau QC on March 3 and 4, 2020, the committee recommended that the AFAC board to rename the Indigenous Fire Marshal Office project to the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council project. There was extensive discussion about the governance structure and mandate of the entity.

The NAC is comprised of 10 individuals who represent Indigenous organizations or act independently.

> Elder Mike Mitchell - Independent > Erin Myers – Metis National Council > Irving LeBlanc – Assembly of First Nations Technician. > Vacant Seat – Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami > Harvey McCue – First Nations Housing Professionals Association > George Cox – Cree National Government > Sean Vanderkliss- Independent/Millennial > Angel Beardy– Independent/Youth > Chief Dan George – AFN Chief/Former Fire Fighter > Debbie Pierre – Office of the Wet’suwet’en

March 2020 National Advisory Committee meeting in Gatineau, QC

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 19 Conference and Trade Show Participation

We participated in a variety of events to promote awareness of the project and to gather relevant data to inform program development.

> April 8–11/19 Chiefs of Ontario – Toronto, ON > May 21–23/19 FSIN – Meadow Lake, SK > June 5/19 FNESS Fire Expo / TSG information session – Penticton, BC > June 10/19 NWT Fire Chiefs Conference / TSG information session – Yellowknife, NWT > June 12–14/19 Chiefs of Ontario – Sault Ste. Marie, ON > June 22/19 ONFFS Regional Fire Conference & Competition / TSG information session > July 21–26/19 Assembly of First Nations - AGA – Fredericton, NB > Sept 11–16/19 CAFC/CCFMFC Conference – Ottawa, ON > October 22, 2019 “Mamowenchige - Working Together” Conference - Thunder Bay, ON > December 3–5, 2019 AFN Special Chiefs Assembly Circle of Trade – Ottawa, ON > January 23–26/20 Pro-Board Accreditation Conference – West Palm Beach, FL > January 23–24/20 PTSD Workshop – Toronto, ON > February 11–13/20 Aboriginal Housing Conference – Thunder Bay, ON > February 17–20/20 First Nations National Building Officer Association – Ottawa, ON > February 24/20 Saskatchewan FN Emergency Management Conference – Saskatoon, SK > March 2–5/20 AFN Climate Conference – Whitehorse, YT > March 4–6/20 Journal of Emergency Medicine – EMS Conference – Tampa, FL > March 9–12/20 AFN Chiefs Committee on Infrastructure & Housing – Ottawa, ON

20 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Communications

The IFMO project entered a transitional phase with three specific communications strategies:

> Engagement session communications. > Indigenous organizations (political and service delivery) information dissemination. > Project communications. Engagement Sessions Communications

The goal of the engagement communications strategy was to build awareness of the IFMO engagement sessions dates/locations and target participation with Indigenous community leadership, fire departments, housing and infrastructure departments, national/provincial political organizations, and technical service groups.

Indigenous Organizations Communications

The goal of the engagement strategy is to develop consistent information about all aspects of the IFMO project. These include detailed components of the project, development of project components, and funding agreement specifics.

The target audiences include technical services groups (TSGs), regional and national organizations funded to deliver programs and services to Indigenous communities, regional and national Indigenous political organizations, regional fire and emergency services associations.

Approach

> Monthly teleconferences with TSGs to disseminate project components and seek input in developing components. > Dissemination of detailed project information including budgets, funding agreements, project plans and related administrative components. > Response to project misinformation and critical feedback through teleconferences, newsletters, published reports, and direct meetings.

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 21 Project Communications

The goal of the project communications strategy was to improve the overall awareness of the IFMO project, purpose for the need of an IFMO, and ongoing project phases. Target audiences include all Indigenous communities, organizations, political groups and non-Indigenous entities that have an interest in supporting improved fire services in Indigenous communities.

Approach

> Build social following through sharing thoughtful, high-value posts. > Create new content in the form of blog posts that can be shared and aggregated into an e-newsletter. > Develop a convenient process for AFAC-APAC team to respond to current affairs. > Quarterly print newsletter with a focus on regulation, national programs, etc. > Measure social engagement, website traffic, list membership, and other metrics. > Design: handouts, graphics for web, blog images, etc. > Web updates: landing pages, loading new content. > Ongoing SEO maintenance, analytics reporting, and recommendations. > Ongoing translation.

Goat Island, Eskasoni, NS

22 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Operating Budget AFAC IFMO

4001 Revenue $319,000 5140 Revenue $1,901,690 AB Amendment $30,000 2018/19 Surplus* $226,397

Total Revenue $349,000 Total Revenue $2,128,087 Budgeted Expenses Budgeted Expenses 5120 Audit & Legal $9,300 1 Project Lead $110,000

Corporate $9,300 2 Project Admin $41,096 5002 Board Lost Wages $12,500 3 Engagement Coord $75,300 5102 Project Facilitation $17,200 4 Engagement Participant Facilitator $62,400 9001 Admin-Finance $20,000 5 Engagement Log. & Travel Fac. $44,046 Management 6 Program Devlopment Resource $71,250 Human Resources $49,700 7 Incident Database Resource $78,940 5206 NFC - Travel & $95,000 8 Programs Delivery Resource $72,000 Translation 9 Corporate Development Resource $28,800 5206- AB Regional $30,000 2 (Amendment) 10 NAC Support $17,200 5202 NFC - Host Contr/AFAC $24,500 11 AFAC Fin Support $16,500 exp 12 AFAC Admin $36,000 5302 NPC - Poster Contest $12,000 13 IT Support $21,898 Prizes/Printing Project Resources $675,430 5209 CAFC/CCFMC Conf Fees $7,500 14 14B1Project Travel $106,900 5209 AFN Conf Fees $8,000 15 Communications $36,000

AFAC Programs $177,000 Apportioned Costs $142,900

5208 AFAC Travel $87,000 16 Engagement Support $51,600 Travel $87,000 17 Engagement Logistics $54,600 5301 Marketing/Promotion $5,000 18 Engagement Travel $482,000 5303 Translation $6,500 19 Engagement Targeted Activity $47,500 9208 Website $4,000 20 Engagement Facilitation $251,900 5402 Postage/Courier $4,500 Engagement $887,600 5403 Telephone/Fax $2,000 21 Incident Database $26,060 5404 Office Supplies $2,000 Service Delivery $26,060 5407 Other-IT Equip $2,000 22 National Advisory Committee $96,700 Support Services $26,000 23 Corp Dev - Working Group $46,000

Total Budgeted Expenses $349,000 Corporate Development $142,700 24 Admin Audit - apportioned $9,000 25 Admin - Bank & corporate fees $3,500 26 Admin - software/IT fees $5,000 27 Admin - event logistics $9,500

Administration Costs $27,000 Total Budgeted Expenses $1,901,690

AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 23 indigenousfiresafety.ca/afac-apac