Federal Funding to Subsidize Eight New Emergency Management Coordinators
MILLBROOK – The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) will hire eight new emergency management coordinators for its eight Member Communities, with support from a $2.4 million contribution of federal funding.
Jenica Atwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, visited Millbrook on Aug. 14 to announce the funding, in the presence seven of the eight Member Community Chiefs and a number of CMM directors, managers and staff.
“After numerous discussions, we are so pleased to have these emergency management positions in our communities,” said Trina Khattar, CMM Director of Community Services and Infrastructure.
“We are looking forward to continued discussions with our partners to further enhance emergency management capacity in our eight member First Nations.”
The funding, and the recruitment of staff in the coming weeks, are part of a response to the community-level need for dedicated emergency management coordinators in The CMM’s Member Communities.
With the increasing severity of wildfires, floods, hurricanes and snowstorms, Wednesday’s funding supports the federal government’s efforts to make First Nations equal partners in multilateral emergency management service agreements – which allow First Nations to have a greater say in how they handle emergencies.
The funding and staff it will support will help First Nations continue with a leading role in assessing community need and determining proper course of action in emergency situations.
“The CMM is very happy to host the federal government’s funding announcement today,” said CMM Associated Executive Director Wyatt White after the announcement.
“We believe that this funding will form an important base for growing the capacity for each of our communities to not only meet the challenges of emergencies but to learn and grow from those experiences. The world is challenging more rapidly, and we will work with key partners like the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia to ensure Mainland Mi’kmaq communities get the support they deserve.”
With the federal support, local-level emergency management personnel will help Member Communities respond to events promptly, and in a culturally relevant manner.
CMM Executive Director Angeline Gillis, unable to attend the announcement in in person, said the funding announcement, “marks a significant step in strengthening the resilience of our communities.”
Gillis said support from dedicated emergency management coordinators means better prepared communities, which can handle emergency situations better. This will empower communities to lead in responses that honour Mi’kmaq cultural values and traditions.
“This funding recognizes the importance of Indigenous leadership in emergency management and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding our people and our lands,” Gillis said.
Funding
The CMM’s eight Member Communities will split the federal funding, with portions going to Annapolis Valley, Bear River, Glooscap, Millbrook, Pictou Landing, Sipekne’katik, Wasoqopa’q First Nations and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaq Nation.
August’s funding comes in addition to previous federal funding, which supported the hiring of three coordinators with The CMM and Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq (UNSM) – the new funding brings up the total number of emergency management coordinators in Unama’ki to 11.