First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership - FNWEP

🔥Please join us in welcoming Thomas Carstens, our new I-STEAM Intern! Thomas joined us on May 1 and is working alongside Dr. Tara McGee and Dr. Douglas Yearwood on a research project exploring how artificial intelligence can help address gaps in emergency planning, with a focus on Indigenous communities, wildfire evacuation, and host-community coordination. He was drawn to the FNWEP project because it combines his interests in psychology, economics, and politics. Thomas is passionate about economic resource allocation and believes growing First Nations populations deserve greater attention in research and policy discussions.

He is a proud member of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation in Manitoba. Although he grew up in Edmonton, he has maintained a deep connection to his home community through his mother and a strong awareness of the unique challenges First Nations face during natural disasters through the lived experiences of relatives, which inspired him to give back through meaningful research that supports First Nations communities to build more proactive and resilient systems.

Thomas recently completed his second year at the University of Alberta, where he studies Economics, Psychology, and Politics. He began at the UofA through the Transition Year Program (TYP) in Fall 2023. Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a Master’s in Economics or an MBA and eventually work in public policy, government, or economic think tanks. He also recently launched his Substack, The Synthetic Brief, where he writes about behavioral economics, political frameworks, and technology policy.

Fun fact: Thomas is also passionate about youth sports mentorship and coaching hockey. He says mentoring young athletes has been one of the most rewarding parts of his hockey journey, and credits the mentors he met through hockey programs for shaping who he is today. He also loves travelling, and one of his biggest adventures was trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp with his dad in Grade 6, followed by a trip through India visiting New Delhi, Goa, and the Taj Mahal in Agra!

We're privileged to have Thomas Carstens as part of our team — welcome aboard!

🔥It is that time of the year again! Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is back this May 2, 2026! Every action makes a difference when it comes to reducing wildfire risk. This national day is all about bringing communities together to raise awareness and boost resilience.

Research backs this up: A 2011 study by Dr. Tara McGee found that neighbourhood-level wildfire mitigation programs in Canada, the U.S., and Australia not only reduce fire risk, but also strengthen community resilience and relationships between residents and government agencies. The key? Active public engagement.

Take a look at these real examples from the study to spark ideas in your own community:
- Organizing neighbourhood “work bees” to thin vegetation and remove debris
- Hosting workshops with fire agencies to learn about local wildfire risks
- Coordinating evacuation planning and drills

Your community can do this too. Whether through yard cleanups, drafting an emergency plan, or simply talking to your neighbors, your efforts can help protect your community. When neighbours work together, they build safer, more connected, and more prepared communities.

Want to dive deeper into the research? Read: “Public engagement in neighbourhood level wildfire mitigation and preparedness: Case studies from Canada, the US and Australia” by Dr. Tara McGee: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479711001721

🔥A new article published in The Conversation on March 12 by Drs. Tara and Amy explore how governments can better support Indigenous communities disproportionately impacted by wildfires.

Across Canada, wildfires are forcing communities to evacuate more frequently, and Indigenous communities account for 42% of wildfire evacuations over the past four decades. In the article, the co-founders of the FNWEP draw on their research to highlight the unique challenges these communities face during evacuations, including limited emergency management resources, transportation barriers, family separation, and inadequate accommodations.

Despite these challenges, the article also highlights the resilience of Indigenous communities and the leadership that helps evacuees support one another during crises. The authors call for stronger government coordination, long-term funding for emergency management, and greater investment in wildfire prevention.

Read the full article to learn more about the realities of wildfire evacuations and the solutions being proposed: https://theconversation.com/how-governments-can-help-indigenous-communities-disproportionately-impacted-by-wildfires-275198
A French version of the article is also available!