In Anishinaabemowin, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation is known as Gaa-wiikwedaawangaag, which means “along the sandy shore.”
Since 2021, CIER has been closely supporting climate change initiatives in Sandy Bay, starting with climate change adaptation planning. After realizing the demand for action within the community, CIER increased the amount of support to Sandy Bay.
In addition to workshops and planning sessions in Sandy Bay, climate change initiatives have included planting over 600 beneficial trees, building a greenhouse funded by the Donner Canadian Foundation to support local food sovereignty, and engaging community youth in various climate and cultural activities.
As a major project partner, Wawanesa has launched the “Wawanesa Climate Champions” program to provide financial support to the people on the frontlines of climate change. Through the “Wawanesa Climate Champions” program, Wawanesa has supported tree planting, necessities for the greenhouse, and youth-based initiatives in Sandy Bay over the past few years.
Empowering Community Resilience Through Emergency Preparedness with a focus on Wildfire Prevention and a Food Security initiative.
WILDFIRE & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS
In 2025, in addition to further greenhouse and food sovereignty support, the Wawanesa Climate Champions program supports hazard mitigation through workshops that includes three sessions that focused on community safety, awareness, and planning. The three workshops experienced great engagement and offered knowledge to help communities across Canada strengthen resilience through Indigenous-led climate action.
WORKSHOP 1 – July 24, 2025: Building Resilience, Protecting Our Future: Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation Leads the Way
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) joined Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation (SBOFN) for a powerful workshop on Emergency Preparedness Planning and Community Wildfire Risk, Mitigation, and Resilience.
Rooted in Indigenous worldviews and guided by Two-Eyed Seeing, the workshop brought together community members, Elders, and youth to explore the Emergency Management cycle – Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery — and to co-create a Community Wildfire Resilience Action Plan.
WORKSHOP 2 – August 26th, 2025: Indigenous Knowledge for Emergency Preparedness & Wildfire Risk Reduction
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) joined Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation (SBOFN) for a second in-person workshop on Emergency Preparedness Planning and Community Wildfire Risk, Mitigation, and Resilience. Building on the momentum of the first session, Elders, youth, and community members once again came together to have discussions on safety, resilience, and Indigenous land stewardship. The workshop highlighted the integration of Indigenous knowledge into proactive emergency planning and FireSmart practices, while also emphasizing cultural fire management and the development of SBOFN Youth Guardian teams as future leaders in wildfire preparedness.
Looking ahead, the community identified key next steps to advance the Community Wildfire Resilience Action Plan, including strengthening local response capacity through training and equipment, and securing sustainable long-term funding. By aligning these efforts with the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, Sandy Bay continues to demonstrate how Indigenous knowledge and community-driven action can build a safer, stronger, and climate-resilient future.
WORKSHOP 3 – October 2, 2025: Virtual Emergency Planning & Wildfire Resilience Workshop
The third Emergency Preparedness Planning and Wildfire Risk session hosted by CIER brought together community leadership and departments to strengthen readiness for floods, fires, and other climate-related emergencies. Together, we explored practical FireSmart strategies, local emergency-response coordination, and ways to build long-term resilience through Indigenous-led planning. This workshop series is part of an ongoing collaboration between CIER, Wawanesa Insurance, and Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, helping communities across Canada strengthen resilience through Indigenous-led climate action.
- Learn more about FireSmart Canada resources here: https://firesmartcanada.ca/
- Learn more about Manitoba Emergency Management Organization resources here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/emo/
See our Emergency Preparedness Planning page here.
News and Resources
For more information, please contact Thomas McKay, Project Manager – Climate Change and Biodiversity, at [email protected]
