Building Wildfire Resilience Through Education and Community Action

A community-led FireSmart ™ initiative focuses on education, preparedness, and resilience.

Oliver, B.C.: The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) is taking proactive steps to better protect its community and lands from wildfire through the OIB FireSmart™ Program, led by Nk’Mip Forestry in collaboration with the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS).

This year, the FireSmart™ Program has focused on education and awareness, helping community members understand how everyday actions can make their homes and neighbourhoods safer in the event of a wildfire.

“We’ve made it a priority to connect directly with the community. Our focus this year has been on education by presenting information at meetings, visiting homes, sharing materials, and having conversations with OIB members about how they can better protect their properties. This awareness helps provide people with the tools to make real change.” - Peter Flett, Registered Professional Forester (RPF), Head of Operations, Nk’Mip Forestry.

OIB’s forestry crew also took part in the Local FireSmart™ Representatives (LFR) training, which teaches participants how to assess homes and identify ways to reduce wildfire risk. Following the training and a field session led by Dan Stevens from FNESS, the crew completed several Home Ignition Zone and Critical Infrastructure Assessments across the community, including sites such as the OIB Health Centre and Community Hall.

The training built technical skills along with confidence and capacity for the team.

“Completing the LFR training allowed us to start coordinating with local partners like FNESS and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. We’ve been conducting home assessments in high-risk areas and developing neighbourhood plans that help connect groups of homes and the green spaces around them. The goal is to make wildfire mitigation accessible and something people can participate in.” - Eden Hardcastle, Forester In Training, Nk’Mip Forestry.

Education has remained at the heart of OIB’s FireSmart™ approach. Community meetings, hands-on training, and shared learning opportunities have brought people together around a common goal to help make the land and homes safer.

As the program grows, new initiatives are already being planned, including a community clean-up day, information luncheon, and additional fuel management treatments on OIB lands. These activities build on the progress already made and strengthen the community’s long-term resilience.

According to Cathy MacKenzie, RPF, Wildfire Resiliency Supervisor at FNESS, OIB’s approach is one that other Nations can learn from. “FNESS supports Nations across B.C. on their wildfire resilience journeys, and OIB is a great example of what can be achieved through strong local leadership and collaboration,” she shared. “The OIB crew is trained, motivated, and deeply involved in every aspect of FireSmart™, from home assessments to operational fuel treatments. They’re carrying the message forward within the community.”

OIB’s FireSmart™ work reflects the Band’s ongoing commitment to stewardship, balance, and responsibility for the land. It helps better protect homes and infrastructure while also incorporating traditional knowledge that guides OIB’s relationship with the territory.

The OIB FireSmart™  Program continues to grow as a model for community-led wildfire resilience, empowering people to take action and work together to support a resilient landscape that can be enjoyed by generations to come.

About Nk’Mip Forestry

Nk’Mip Forestry LLP, operated under the leadership of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), supports the Band’s commitment to responsible land stewardship across its forest tenures. The team applies traditional knowledge alongside modern forestry practices to manage forests sustainably, reduce wildfire risk, and support long-term ecosystem health. Through partnerships with government, industry, and community organizations, Nk’Mip Forestry also helps create training and employment opportunities for OIB members while advancing sustainable economic development.

Follow Nk’Mip Forestry on social media: LinkedIn 

For more information or an interview with Nk’Mip Forestry, contact:

Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, (250) 574 0221 | aleece@amplifyinc.ca