Post-Event Report: 2025 FCM/Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention from May 29-June 1, 2025

As is my standard practice following attendance at a Seminar, Conference or Convention in my capacity as the #CaribooRD Area "D" Director -- please find below the link to my "Post Event" Report respecting my attendance at the 2025 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention held in Ottawa, ON from May 29-June 1, 2025

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J22--KLSAq2OA8W0l6hb3ENaVsi5WUfY/view?usp=drive_link

~Steve 

FCM 2025 - Day 3 of 4

Today is Day 3 of 4 at the 2025 FCM or Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention in the City of Ottawa, Ontario in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples who have lived here since the beginning of time 

On the Agenda:

* Workshops -- listing here

* Study Tours - listing here

* Political Keynote Addresses

* Rural Plenary - click here

* Resolutions Session

* Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Reception

FCM 2025 - Day 2 of 4

Today is Day 2 of 4 at the 2025 FCM or Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention in the City of Ottawa, Ontario in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples who have lived here since the beginning of time 

On the Agenda:

* Full program - click here

* Workshops -- listing here

* Study Tours - listing here

* Political Keynote Addresses 

* Rural, Northern and Remote and Climate Caucus Receptions

FCM 2025 - Day 1 of 4

Today is Day 1 of 4 at the 2025 FCM or Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention in the City of Ottawa, Ontario in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples who have lived here since the beginning of time

On the Agenda:

* Full background -- click here

* Workshops -- listing here

* Study Tours - listing here.  I will be attending the "Riverine Flood Preparedness and Response in a Changing Climate" Study Tour

* BC Caucus Meeting

* Ottawa Mayor's Welcome Reception

Williams Lake First Nation Calls on Canada to Support Revitalization of Former Residential School Site

Courtesy of Williams Lake First Nation:

Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) commenced the investigation into the disappeared and deceased Indigenous children at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School (“SJM”) in July of 2021. Now, nearly four years into that investigation, WLFN has completed survivor interviews, archival research, community engagement and the geophysical investigation of more than 470 acres of property surrounding the site of the former residential school. Ground penetrating radar has revealed 159 reflections that show characteristics indicative of human burials.

The WLFN investigation of the former St. Joseph’s Mission has also been documented by a film crew, eventually resulting in the production of a movie entitled “Sugarcane” – which is the name colloquially given to Williams Lake First Nation Indian Reserve where the bulk of its members reside. The film premiered in early 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won a jury prize in directing, and began streaming on Disney+ later in 2024. In January of 2025, Sugarcane received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film at the Academy Awards.

“The amount of attention that this investigation has received as a result of this film is incredible,” states Williams Lake First Nation Kukpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars. “This is a topic that people around the world are keen to know more about. The atrocities that were committed at residential schools in Canada are coming to light because of our investigation and the investigations conducted by other communities, and bringing this truth to light is a big part of the process of reconciliation”.

In 2024, WLFN purchased the central property upon which the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School was located.

“Our investigation may not be complete for many years, but our vision is to transform this site into a place where people can gather, honor those who attended this facility, and learn more about the legacy of Canada’s residential schools,” adds SJM Project Lead, Whitney Spearing. “It’s something that needs to be done. We can’t leave the site like this. It’s a cold, desolate place, and it’s impossible for people to gather safely.”

Despite the massive amount of attention directed at the WLFN investigation, both within Canada and internationally, there has been no support offered by the government of Canada toward either the acquisition of the SJM property or the commemoration of the site. WLFN provided a detailed proposal to Canada in December, but Canada has not provided any response to that proposal.

“It is profoundly disturbing to me that we are not receiving any support from the government of Canada toward any property-related initiative,” adds Kukpi7 Sellars. “How can people heal if they can’t safely gather at the place where their family members suffered for generations?” states Chief Sellars. “How can the people of Canada learn more about the legacy of the residential school system if they’re not able to visit these places? I’m calling on the Government of Canada to step up and make an actual investment in a place of healing at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission. This is the time for Canada to step up and take action. I intend to use the platform afforded to me at the Academy Awards to bring further attention to this issue.”

Sugarcane is one of five films nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. The awards will air internationally on Sunday March 2, 2025.

BC/Federal Gov'ts contribute to disaster resilience for Tŝilhqot’in peoples

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

A series of investments by the governments of British Columbia and Canada will help the Tŝilhqot’in National Government strengthen climate resilience and emergency management for its people and communities.

The Province is providing $5 million to the Tŝilhqot’in National Government for an extensive feasibility study to determine the suite of emergency infrastructure required in the territory, which is located in the Chilcotin region of west-central British Columbia. Infrastructure, such as an emergency centre and evacuation and training centres, will be considered.

“The Tŝilhqot’in peoples were severely impacted by the Cariboo-Chilcotin wildfires of summer 2017,” said the Hon. Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “This funding and partnership is in keeping with our government’s commitment to advance reconciliation and improve emergency management for Indigenous Peoples and is another step in solidifying our long-term and growing partnership with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government.”

Last year, the Province, the federal government and the Tŝilhqot’in National Government renewed the Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement (CEMA), which was established in 2018. The Province is providing $1 million to the Tŝilhqot’in National Government for governance and operations to support the next four years of CEMA.

CEMA commits the three governments to collaboratively develop and implement strategies to enhance the role and capacity of Tŝilhqot’in peoples in emergency management, including a review of infrastructure, operational requirements and other capacity needs.

The development of a proposal for an Indigenous-led regional emergency centre, a training facility and evacuation centres were part of the original CEMA agreement, which was renewed for a five-year term and financed by contributions from B.C.’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, B.C.’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and Indigenous Services Canada.

The BC Wildfire Service is engaged in ongoing agreements with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government related to facility and operational co-operation.

Through Indigenous Services Canada, the federal government has committed approximately $2 million for CEMA, including support for co-ordination and planning of the emergency centre, community fire-safety assessments and fire-services equipment.

Additionally, Natural Resources Canada is investing more than $1 million toward the Tŝilhqot’in National Government Emergency Management – Wildfire Capacity Building project, which will recruit and train 20 community members to build capacity and help establish crews in each of its six communities. This project is part of the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program Training Fund to train 1,000 additional firefighters and incorporate Indigenous traditional knowledge in fire management.

These funding initiatives are a response to the 2019 Tŝilhqot’in-led report: Nagwediẑk’an gwaneŝ gangu ch’inidẑed ganexwilagh (The Fires Awakened Us) Calls to Action.

“The history of wildfire management in the province has shown us that First Nations are often at the front lines and need to be empowered to manage emergencies on their land. We know what is best for our people,” said Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government. “We have seen wildfires, flooding and a pandemic that have put our relationships with B.C. and Canada to the test. Groundbreaking agreements like CEMA are needed to ensure First Nations have an active and leading role in emergencies. We have to change the way we approach wildfire and how we fight it. The climate crisis is taking all hands on deck. We are proud to say that we are making progress in the infrastructure needed to be resilient during this crisis.”

These investments also advance reconciliation under the Gwets’en Nilt’i Pathway Agreement of 2019, which brought the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, the Province and the federal government together to continue their work toward supporting the self-determination of the Tŝilhqot’in peoples. The Gwets’en Nilt’i Pathway Agreement is the first tripartite reconciliation agreement of its kind in B.C.

The work done with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and Tŝilhqot’in communities is intended to inform work with other Indigenous governments and communities, and the broader commitment to improve overall emergency management in B.C. and throughout the country.