Preliminary research on the subject should be compiled by the end of this summer. (Submitted photo/Ministry of Environment)

By Derek Cornet

fire and floods

University study seeks Indigenous participants for emergency evacuation research

Apr 28, 2022 | 4:31 PM

First Nations and Métis residents are encouraged to participate in a University of Saskatchewan (U of S) study focused on emergency evacuation.

According to Dr. Caroline Tait of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Research Centre, the project is being done in partnership with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MN-S). The study will examine the personal experience of those who have been evacuated due to either wildfire, smoke or floods.

It is also open to those who have helped with an evacuation as part of an emergency response team.

“There has been a lot of discussion and focus on what happens when a natural disaster such as a flood or fire happens, what happens in the community and how to protect the communities,” Tait said. “First Nations and Métis people have been leaders in protecting their own community, that we know, but the focus of this study we wanted to look at the experience of people who are First Nations and Métis who are being evacuated and the evacuation process.”

There have been many evacuations due to smoke and wildfire in Saskatchewan in recent years, impacting members in various First Nations communities of Buffalo River Dene Nation, Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Red Earth Cree Nation and Shoal Lake Cree Nation.

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Those who would like to participate in the study will undergo a one to two-hour interview about their experience of evacuation. Tait noted information collected will be broad and could include topics such as supports that are and are not available, mental health, food quality and diversity, addictions, privacy, vulnerability of minors and more.

“Dr. Simon Lambert and myself are in the process of pulling together a think tank group of experts in this area,” Tait said. “We’re really hoping to make a positive contribution to what is already happening and led by First Nations and Métis people. Our desire is really to support their efforts and try to look at the lived experience of people. That data will help to inform whether we can improve the experience of people who’ve been evacuated.”

Tait expects some preliminary data from the study will be compiled by the end of the summer. Initial findings will be shared with FSIN and MN-S, which will work with the U of S team to determine what the next steps will be.

Those interested in getting involved can contact Warrick Baijius at warrick.baijius@usask.ca or Jose Diego at josediego.marquessantos@usask.ca. Participants will be provided a $100 honorarium.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno