Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The challenges around communicating with so many different bodies was a huge challenge to overcome. For example, when we had to have the lockdown when the gunman came through our community, it created total chaos, because once the RCMP requested that our community be locked down—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Currently Tk'emlups has an agreement with the Kamloops Fire Rescue. During the wildfires this summer we ended up having a lot of homeless people come from across the river from the city. That's created a real safety issue for our community because many of those individuals have l

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We target different areas each year depending on the underbrush growth.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We didn't have the ability to declare that, so that's one of the barriers. That's a really good example of why you need to engage first nations in emergency preparedness.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We had some real challenges with trying to convince the Red Cross to come to our powwow grounds to train our volunteers and staff on how to access the emergency allowances. The application requires that you have an electronic mail address. A lot of our people don't have computer

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think that the public safety ministry—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  —should be decentralized and not be centralized out of Ottawa. There should be regional offices in each province and territory where they can provide community resources for training so that it's comprehensive in all facets of emergency preparedness.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. We're still trying to resolve that, and it hasn't been resolved at all. It's still a big challenge.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's at all levels. An example is the people who were evacuated from Esk'etemc, one of the neighbouring Secwépemc reserves. Because the emergency preparedness centre that was set up in the city didn't have them on their list as an evacuated community, those individuals were denie

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a first nation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's an emergency situation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all, kukwstsétsemc to the Algonquin nation for their continued generosity in allowing us to be on their unceded territory. I want to say kukwstsétsemc, Madam Chair, to you and to each of the members of the committee for providing us with the opportunity to share our re