b'EMERGENCY SERVICESAFN Emergency Services Improves First Nations Involvement in Crisis Preparation and ResponseBy David A. DiaboI t is well known that First NationsFirst Nations in the developmentpartners work collaboratively with First experience a wide disparity in theof intergovernmental agreementsNations leaders.1provision of emergency servicesrelated to mitigation, preparedness,The AFN Emergency Services also such as prevention/mitigation,response and recovery planning, ascollaborates with Public Safety preparedness, response and recoverywell as ensuring INAC and provincialCanada (PSC) on various projects and compared to municipalities of similar size and circumstance, and climate change is complicating this issue.Formally, the Assembly of First NationsTHE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO MEET (AFN) Emergency Issues Management (EIM) Sector began in 2010, andTHE NEEDS OF ALL FIRST NATIONS CONTINUES TO BE its initial work was engaging with Indigenous Services Canada to monitor,A NATIONAL ISSUE. THE AFN IS ENGAGED IN ONGOING track and notify First Nations emergency management technicians on emergencyWORK FOR NEW INVESTMENTS, IMPROVED PROGRAMS and disaster events affecting First Nations. The unit was recently renamedAND SERVICES AS WELL AS POLICY CHANGES AND the Emergency Services (ES) unit and is now part of the Housing, InfrastructureRESPECTFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FIRST and Emergency Services Sector.Resolution 03/2015, First NationsNATIONS AND ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. 2involvement in Emergency Preparedness, calls on all governments to include 90 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2019'