New federal funding continues to support the partnership between UBCO and the First Nations Emergency Services Society, where the two work together with AI models to help predict hotspots. FNESS photo.
A partnership between UBC Okanagan and the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) to develop new technologies supporting Indigenous fire stewardship received a funding boost yesterday.
The federal government is contributing more than $2.3 million to support the partnership, part of Natural Resources Canada’s Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, which provided $41.7 million for 20 projects across Canada—all with the common goal of protecting Canadians from the increased threat of wildfire.
“Protecting the safety, health and economic wellbeing of communities across Canada is a top priority as we face the ongoing threat of wildfires,” says The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
“Our government is leading efforts to strengthen wildfire management and reduce wildfire risks in Canada,” he adds. “Today’s announcement will allow us to prepare for future challenges by advancing wildfire knowledge, accelerating risk and mitigation strategies and supporting Indigenous fire stewardship to build resilience and protect Canadian families and homes.”
A portion of the funding will support Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, and his continued work with the FNESS.
“By weaving Indigenous knowledge and values with new fire-risk sensor technology and predictive models, this project will help mitigate the risk of severe wildfire to Indigenous, economic and natural resource values, and contribute to the restoration of cultural and prescribed fire practices on traditional territories,” says Dr. Bourbonnais.
This includes deploying 150 fire-risk sensors in collaboration with First Nations communities in British Columbia. Data from the sensors will then be used in AI predictive models developed by UBCO researchers to forecast wildfire risk and potential fire behaviour.
Mapping of values and infrastructure integrated with the established fire risk will support the development of integrated fire management frameworks centred on the needs of the community, explains Matt Nelson, FNESS Integrated Fire Management Supervisor.
“This support from Natural Resources Canada is a game-changer. This funding allows UBCO and FNESS to work collaboratively with First Nations communities on holistic fire mitigation,” he says. “By combining Indigenous knowledge with new technology, we’re helping to predict wildfire risk while respecting and integrating traditional fire practices. This initiative is about empowering communities to protect their land and their people.”
The funding will support the UBCO-FNESS project through to 2028.
Yesterday, along with the Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, the government also announced an additional $3.9 million in grants for 10 Indigenous-led projects.
