Six Foundations of Building Community Resilience, Six Extraordinary Stories
There are six foundations that support the building of community resilience – an ongoing process rather than a destination (Lerch, 2017). Stories of partnerships, innovation and perseverance are roadmaps demonstrating the vast possibilities of what we are capable of doing when the right elements come together.
Blog cover photo credit: Colett Reilly
Photo credit: Rita Vicari via unsplash.com
FOUNDATION 1: PEOPLE
What it means: People are the heartbeat of their community. Every community member has a voice and together they build a resilient future. The Piikani Nation located near the US/Canada border is engaged in a co-created multi-year initiative with The Resilience Institute. One aspect of the initiative is called “Stories of Resilience”.
How it works: The Piikani Nation community members engage in dialogues about climate change. “Each of these stories is a personal reflection on the author’s history as an Indigenous person, observations of change in the environment, and thoughts on courage and strength that will enable their community members to meet personal challenges and move towards resilient futures in the context of a rapidly changing environment.” (TRI, 2021)
Why it works: This approach encourages community members to discover what makes them resilient as people and how these attributes can in turn prepare their community for climate change. It’s based on the theory that by sharing with others our perception of what it means to be resilient, we start focusing on the positive prospect of change at the community level.
Photo credit: The Resilience Institute
FOUNDATION 2: SYSTEMS THINKING
What it means: using systems thinking allows us to see the relationships and linkages between elements of systems, issues, the world. It gives us a chance at understanding why things are working and not working and how we may be able to change them to produce desired results.
How it works: Kanaka Bar Indian Band, known for its climate change leadership and actions, is in the middle of a project that includes three resiliency centres in their community. Resilience centre 1 is a newly completed community building which has battery storage (can run a minimum 36 hours in event hydro grid goes down); resilience centre 2 consisted of 24 residential units (in construction), and resilience centre 3 is a residential and commercial retail space. They will be powered by hybrid renewable energy sources and backup batteries. All equipped with reliable wifi and cell service to accommodate those who need shelter, power, food, and means of communication in emergency situations. Kanaka Bar approaches climate change with combination of traditional knowledge, science and technology. The community has long invested in weather monitoring stations as well as watershed monitoring activities to acquire site specific data.
Why it works: the systems thinking approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the priorities, needs, and risks; subsequently identifying mitigative measures and strategies for reducing risks, as well as mitigating potential consequences from undesirable events.
Photo credit: Kanaka Bar Indian Band
FOUNDATION 3: ADAPTABILITY
What it means: Being resilient means not only being able to withstand worsening conditions, but also having the ability to adapt. And often that means using creativity and having flexibility. Technology innovation coupled with the foresight to pilot something new is exactly what Tsideldel First Nation and Tl’etinqox Government did, with the help of a Seattle-based company called DroneSeed.
How it works: In 2017, a large area in the Chilcotin Plateau (west of Williams Lake) was destroyed by wildfires. In November, 2021, thousands of Lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir tree seeds were dropped by seed-packing drones in a 52-hectare spread. A pre-op survey using LIDAR technology was done to identify the locations of the drop (soil as opposed to rocks/gravel). This made seeding possible in areas with steep inclines, swamps and danger trees.
Why it works: A prime example of exhibiting adaptability. Although just a pilot project, the prospect of this work is undeniable. If proved successful, it will help address reforestation challenges, and some of the co-benefits that follow include carbon absorption, wildlife habitat revival, and supporting healthy watersheds.
Photo credit: Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia
FOUNDATION 4: TRANSFORMABILITY
What it means: sometimes building resilience means thinking outside the box - reaching for something fundamentally different in order to correct something that’s systemically dysfunctional. Similar to adaptability but goes beyond the pre-determined paradigm to affect transformative changes.
How it works: Satellite post-secondary campus sites, in the form of “community learning hubs” are staffed by educators and equipped with technology to make studying closer to home possible for Indigenous students. The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council which represents Dauphin River, Kinonjeoshtegon, Lake Manitoba, Little Saskatchewan, Peguis and Pinaymootang First Nations are part of the first hub model, a collaboration with University of Manitoba.
Why it works: we know that skills and knowledge building are key to success. Traditionally post-secondary education is not set up for easy access to remote and rural Indigenous communities. If young community members start migrating to urban centres to pursue higher education, then you run the risk of losing people, potentially for a long time. This solution keeps social cohesion in place and offers higher education options.
Photo credit: Wes Hicks via unsplash.com
FOUNDATION 5: SUSTAINABILITY
What it means: the sustainability foundation says that future generations, other communities, and our ecosystems need to be taken into consideration when we make decisions. “Preparing our Home” is a community-based resilience planning program that does exactly that.
How it works: Started in 2014, the program is led by youth for the youth and their communities. It uses a 5 element approach (Learn together, Prepare, Connect, Share, Support) developed in collaboration with community partners, organizational partners and advisors.
Why it works: Planning for resilience is about planning for the future and youth are the future. The program puts the wheel in their hands, while providing the necessary guidance and mentoring. The connections and network being forged through all components of the program will prove to be valuable for many generations to come.
Photo credit: Preparing Our Home
FOUNDATION 6: COURAGE
What it means: one can’t overcome nor persevere without courage. Sometimes we need to dare take on the big issues in order to make things better for the collective and that takes leadership, determination and courage.
“Mandated by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Resolution 16/04 Call for Declaration of Public Health Emergency, the Sioux Lookout Chiefs Committee on Health and the NAN Executive declared a Health and Public Health Emergency for First Nations across NAN territory. This Declaration was not made lightly. It was forced into existence by decades of perpetual crisis and persistent health care inequities at the NAN community level. The Declaration is an assertion of the inherent Treaty rights of NAN members to equal opportunities for health, including access to appropriate, timely, high-quality health care, regardless of where they live, what they have or who they are.” ~ Nishnawbe Aski Nation
How it works: A signed charter between NAN, Federal Ministry of Health and Ontario Provincial Ministry of Health initiates a mandate to develop and oversee transformative changes in First Nations health with a focus on NAN communities. Learn more here.
Why it works: making systemic changes to serve the needs and priorities of the communities (including but not limited to access, supporting First Nations communities and organizations in delivering their own services, and policy reform). Communities’ voices are represented and incorporated into the programming from the beginning.
Photo credit: Nishnawbe Aski Nation