Elephant Hill: Secwépemc leadership and lessons learned from the collective story of wildfire recovery

This report documents both Secwépemc community and provincial government agency experiences of the 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire and the subsequent precedent-setting joint leadership approach to wildfire recovery. The report:

• offers an in-depth examination of the drivers for this new approach
• identifies ‘lessons learned’ – the successes, strengths and challenges – from collaborative recovery
• highlights persistent barriers to achieving ‘true partnerships’ in wildfire and emergency management, and how these can be overcome, and
• presents key findings and 30 calls to action to support ongoing collaboration and meaningful Indigenous engagement in wildfire response and recovery

Many of the findings and recommendations outlined in this report apply more broadly throughout BC, Canada, and other settler-colonial jurisdictions around the world that are similarly facing the dual challenges of mitigating and adapting to increasing wildfire risk and meaningfully advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. By sharing the voices and expertise of Secwépemc staff, leadership and community members alongside provincial government staff, this report is a critical and in-depth review of contemporary Indigenous leadership in wildfire management, restoration and land-based recovery.