BC Métis Federation Director of Research Joe Desjarlais recently participated in the 2025 WRCC: Building Foundational Knowledge Gathering in Kamloops, BC (October 8–9). Representing BCMF, Joe presented on the Métis Wildfire Community Research Initiative, an Indigenous-led wildfire knowledge project supported by Natural Resources Canada.

Unable to attend in person, Joe shared a pre-recorded video presentation and joined the Lightning Talks panel discussion via Zoom. His presentation, “Local BC Métis Voices Centred in Canadian Wildfire Narratives,” explored how community-driven research and story-mapping are helping reclaim Métis relationships to fire, land, and resilience.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share our research and story-mapping with people across Canada,” said Desjarlais. “We were the only British Columbia Métis represented in this initiative, and one of very few across the country.”

Reflecting on the importance of community-led approaches, he added: “The best part of my work is helping local researchers repatriate their history and memory in their own voices. By understanding how Métis interacted with fire in the past and how they self-determined through their kinship networks, we can strengthen resilience for the future.”

The event brought together Indigenous community leaders, wildfire practitioners, researchers, and partners from across Canada to share knowledge and build connections around wildfire resilience and response.