2025 WRTS Keynote: Strengthening Wildfire Resilience

Keynote 3 – Strengthening Wildfire Resilience: First Nations Leadership in Readiness, Mitigation, and Cultural Stewardship

Lennard Joe, CEO, BC First Nations Forestry Council

This keynote address at the Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit will explore the critical role of First Nations in wildfire preparedness and mitigation strategies. Focusing on the integration of cultural and prescribed burning practices, the session will highlight how traditional Indigenous knowledge is pivotal in enhancing wildfire resilience. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of First Nations-led efforts in protecting communities, landscapes, and ecosystems from the growing threat of wildfires, while preserving and revitalizing cultural practices that have safeguarded these lands for millennia