These 14 videos provide Canadian Indigenous disaster evacuees with an opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge with a broad, international audience. Every year hundreds of Indigenous people are evacuated from their homes and some remain displaced for months or even years. Indigenous evacuees have important stories to share about this largely invisible situation. Through the videos, participants explain in their own words the short and long-term impacts from evacuations, highlight how pre-existing strengths and challenges influenced their capacities to cope with the evacuation, and outline their thoughts on important insights and lessons gained. These videos capture perspectives from four communities: Lytton First Nation/Kanaka Bar Band, BC; Cormorant Island, BC; Long Plain First Nation, MB; and Eskasoni First Nation, NS.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to the community members who generously shared their stories and wisdom and made this project possible.

Cormorant Island, BC:  Shannon Alfred

Lytton First Nation/Kanaka Bar Band, BC:  Christine Brown, Jennifer Brown, Jim Brown, Trevor Robinson and Merika Sam

Long Plain First Nation, MB:  Eunice and Clemance Assiniboine, Linda Bunn, Trudy Hobson, Liz Merrick and Kathryn Myran

Eskasoni First Nation, NS:  Irene Knockwood, Darlene Marshall and Peter Stevenson

We also encourage you to review the following PDFs:

From Displacement to Hope A Guide Final Version March 2017

Mutual Aid Guide

Please note:  We will be updating this content in the coming days with additional content for each video. Please check back soon.

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Created in 2003 to ensure coordination across all federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians.

Our mandate is to keep Canadians safe from a range of risks such as natural disasters, crime and terrorism.

Our mission is to build a safe and resilient Canada.

Our vision is to, through outstanding leadership, achieve a safe and secure Canada and strong and resilient communities.

UNDRR (formerly UNISDR) is the United Nations focal point for disaster risk reduction. UNDRR oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing what works in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk.

Provincial and territorial emergency management organizations (EMOs) are a good source of information about how to prepare for emergencies in your region. EMO’s activities include planning and research, training, response operations and the administration and delivery of disaster financial assistance programs. EMOs are most familiar with the natural hazards and other risks of your region. Learn more from the EMO in your province or territory.

Stay tuned for more updates soon.