Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We know indigenous people are disproportionately impacted by wildfires. I think indigenous people make up less than 6% of the population, but more than 42% of wildfire evacuations have been from majority indigenous communities.
These communities have also been leading on solutions. Jasper is on Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 territories. The lands have been used as meeting grounds and travelling routes for many nations, and they have been home to nations since time immemorial. According to the Municipality of Jasper, over 26 indigenous partners are connected to the area presently.
Many indigenous communities in Canada have used controlled fire as a traditional land management practice. Supporting these cultural burning practices can help reduce the risk of out-of-control wildfires. Can you tell us a bit about the role of indigenous guardians in managing wildfires in Jasper?