Diverse Experiences of Wildfire in Canada’s Boreal Forest

Maureen G. Reed

UNESCO Chair in Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability, Reconciliation and Renewal

As we anticipate more frequent and intense wildfire seasons across the boreal biome, we can also anticipate that the experiences and challenges of preparation, response, recovery and overall resilience will not be the same for all people living in these regions. To date, emphasis of scientists and preparedness planners has been placed on protecting against biological, physical, and economic losses. In this presentation, I will describe what we learned about social losses experienced by individuals, households and communities during the 2015 wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. We used a feminist intersectional lens to sensitize us to the interconnections of social identity and social structures that explained the diversity of experience we encountered. We will also share key lessons so that future planning efforts can be more inclusive of, and relevant, and responsive to the social and cultural contributions and needs of local Indigenous and settler residents.