COQUITLAM, B.C., June 21, 2023 – The City of Coquitlam and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation are excited to announce an important first step in improving Indigenous cultural safety in local emergency management as they confirm the appointment of Desiree Baker to lead a training program for City staff.
In support of Reconciliation, the City of Coquitlam and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation are working together to prioritize the recognition and respect for local Indigenous cultural practices, beliefs and values.
This includes joining forces to strengthen the resilience of their respective communities in the face of emergencies. An important step forward in this collaboration is the implementation of an Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Training program for the City’s emergency management teams. This training initiative builds on the Joint Mitigation Flood Initiative and application in September 2022 (pending approval) to secure funding towards dike improvements and flood prevention measures along the Coquitlam and Fraser Rivers.
Desiree Baker, of the ‘Namgis First Nation, has been selected by a steering committee comprised of representatives of both the City of Coquitlam and the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation to develop and deliver training that fosters inclusivity and deepens City staff’s understanding of the unique needs and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples with a focus on emergency management situations.
Quotes
"Coquitlam’s emergency response teams are often called upon to assist people during their most vulnerable moments. That's why it's crucial for us to provide our City staff with the training they need to offer compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive support during emergencies. On behalf of City Council and staff across the organization, I express our heartfelt gratitude to the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm for their invaluable guidance in leading this important City training initiative.”
Mayor Richard Stewart, City of Coquitlam
“We are a proud people with deep cultural roots and ways of being and are happy to have this opportunity to educate the emergency personnel about our history and how we live, our connections, and our family ties. By educating the Emergency personnel it is our goal to ensure safe and adequate services are provided to our citizens of Kwikwetlem, we look forward to this continued journey of education and understanding. Walking together for the benefit of our collective communities. We know that the City of Coquitlam is charting a new path and we welcome this training for the benefit of our citizens.“
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation
Culturally Responsive Emergency Management Training Funded Through Provincial Grant
Coquitlam’s Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Training initiative is being funded by a grant in the amount $29,600 received from provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.
This training initiative also supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 57, which reinforces the duty of public agencies to learn about the history and reality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
The joint Coquitlam / kʷikʷəƛ̓əm steering committee will help to shape the training with a focus on teaching City staff about the deep and rich history of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm people in the area now called the Coquitlam watershed. The training will aim to help City staff develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide culturally safe services to local Indigenous individuals and communities. Learning materials will emphasize the importance of engaging in respectful and collaborative relationships, acknowledging power imbalances, and actively listening to and learning from Indigenous perspectives. By fostering cultural safety and humility, the training will contribute to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that supports the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples during emergency situations and beyond.
About Desiree Baker
Desiree Baker, a proud member of the ‘Namgis First Nation from Alert Bay, B.C., brings a wealth of Indigenous knowledge and experience to her role as a skilled facilitator and trainer. Having spent most of her life in the Fraser Valley, Desiree is a devoted mother, proud grandmother and auntie. With a diverse background in Community and Economic Development, Facilitation, Health Services, Child and Family Services, and Business Services, she has amassed 25 years of expertise working within First Nation communities, Government, Health Authorities and business consultation. While her career primarily centered in Sto:lo territory, Desiree possesses a deep understanding of cultural protocols and the dynamics of First Nation communities. Desiree's exceptional people and networking skills allow her to excel in effectively assessing needs, finding solutions and delivering results that are sensitive to the unique context of the clients and communities she supports.
Media Contacts:
Sheldon Martin
Chief Strategy Officer
Kwikwetlem First Nation
communications@kwikwetlem.com or Sheldon.martin@kwikwetlem.com
Wendy Rogers
Director Intergovernmental Relations
City of Coquitlam
media@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.