The Town of Smithers is one of three local governments to ensure indigenous peoples are included in emergency planning and measures.
Each of the town, the District of Houston and the Village of Telkwa received $40,000 provincial grants, which they are now combining to sign a $109,000 contract with consulting company Colliers Project Management.
In turn, Colliers will help set up meetings with the Office of the Wet'suwet'en, the Gitxsan First Nation, Witset and the Lake Babine First Nation to produce a plan for communications and collaboration should an emergency or disaster occur.
Specifically, the intent is to identify significant cultural heritage sites and examine their protection provisions.
The plan is to also include indigenous representatives at emergency operations centres and emergency reception centres.
The provincial grants followed provincial legislation first passed in 2023 requiring indigenous representation in local government emergency and disaster preparations.
The Town of Smithers has taken the local government lead on the project and a briefing note for its council indicates the $109,000 contract cost with Colliers provides a cushion within the $120,000 jointly provided by Smithers, Houston and Telkwa should there be cost overruns.
The project was to have been completed this year but an extension has been granted until next year.
As well, the District of Houston council is applying for another provincial grant, this one for $80,000, for a higher level of indigenous involvement in emergency and disaster planning.
