Indigenous Technical Working Group Meeting on Flood Mapping (Organization and Facilitation)

Description of Work

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has been leading the development of the Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines Series. In order to ensure that the unique perspectives and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples is reflected in the Guidelines, and to gain insight on the specific impacts that flooding has on Indigenous communities (access to traditional territory, the ability to practice traditional activities, access to foods and medicines, exercising treaty rights, etc.), an Indigenous consulting firm, Innovation 7, was contracted to organize an Indigenous Engagement Session on flood mapping on behalf of NRCan. The one-day session took place in Ottawa on March 6, 2019 and included representatives from Indigenous communities located across the country.

Feedback from the engagement session on March 6, 2019 highlighted that the Indigenous communities have a strong cultural relationship with the environment that surrounds them and are tremendously concerned about what the future has in store for their way of life. Traditional methods of weather detection, hunting, gathering, fishing, and trapping are all in jeopardy if climate change continues at this rapid pace and/or their community were to experience a flood. However, Indigenous peoples believe in both their traditional methods and modern science concerning flood mapping. They believe that the two are intertwined and complementary, as part of a ‘two-eyed seeing’ approach. Communities want to be a part of the solution moving forward.

To address the unique perspectives and specific issues for Indigenous communities related to flood mapping and flood risk reduction, an Indigenous Technical Working Group on Flood Mapping (WG) was created.

Objectives

• Reach out to Canadian Indigenous land planning organizations to expand the ITWGFM membership • Coordinate with NRCan/RNCan and communicate with ITWGFM members • Organize ITWFGM members travel to meeting • Organize ITWFGM members accommodations for the duration of the meeting • Work with NRCan/RNCan to develop an agenda • Coordinate with conference venue to ensure all required technology is available • Facilitate the meeting • Provide conference minutes and distribute to workgroup members when approved