fire in the native american-alaska native community
Post on 13-Jan-2016
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Fire in the Native American-Alaska
Native Community
Demographics
• 575 Recognized Tribes
• 4,119,301 Native Americans and Alaska Natives (2000 Census)
AMERIND Regions
Scope of Problem
Fire Related Death Rate for Native
Americans:
3x the national average.
(51.4 per 1,000,000)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
NationalFire Deaths
NativeAmericanFire Deaths
Fire in the United States, 11th Edition, 1987-1996
Scope of Problem
• Fire is the leading cause of childhood injury/death in Native American homes.
» (Source: IHS)
• Top three fire causes:– Children playing with
matches
– Cooking
– Arson» (Source: AMERIND)
Influences
• Tribal sovereignty• Cultural mores• Rural communities • Varying degrees of
fire protection• Variety of agencies
delivering fire protection
• Lack of reporting
Players
• Tribal Councils• Tribal FDs• NNAFCA • BIA• IHS• NAIHC• NCAI• AMERIND
What Needs to Be Done
1. Develop culturally sensitive fire prevention materials/programs
2. Improve communication between NAFDs, IHA, IHS, BIA, USFA
What Needs to Be Done
• Strengthen ties w/AMERIND
• Enlist NAFDs to develop and participate in a national reporting system to improve access to funding.
Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention Outreach Program
Disbursed to IAFC for the purpose of reducing the tragedy
of fire in the
Native American
community.
Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention Outreach Program
– Calls for locating public domain fire prevention materials that can be modified to the Native American community.
– Calls for the NNAFCA to begin a pilot partnership w/housing authorities to discuss fire prevention w/occupants.
– Calls for continued involvement of AMERIND due to their access to reliable data that gives a snapshot of fire problem.
Progress to Date
• 1 focus group and 5 task force meetings held (03/02, 05/20, 08/25, 10/22, 11/14, 12/11).
• Scope of Work modified based on task force input.
• Importance of multi-year funding impressed upon FEMA.
• FEMA accepted modifications to scope of work without issue.
Progress to Date
• Partnerships established with several “players.”
• Template developed for Native American-Alaska Native fire prevention program
Progress to Date
• Tentative permission obtained from Assembly of First Nations (Canada) to use Wisdom of the Fire Program.
“Deliverables”
• Support the expansion of the NNAFCA.
• Develop a better picture of the fire problem in the Native American community through building relationships between the task force principles.
“Deliverables”
• Develop products that can be disseminated to the Native American community that will reduce loss from fire.
• Provide written report to FEMA after each meeting to outline progress.
Principle Deliverables for 03/31/03 deadline:
• Written report outlining what is envisioned for the program in 2002-03.
• Final report on accomplishments to date.
Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention
The Future
• Petition FEMA for additional funding with a second grant request. (late Feb-early March ’03 reply date)
• Continue to facilitate relationships between tribal leaders, tribal housing and tribal FDs.
• Distribute copies and provide training on delivering the components of the template.
The Future
• Expand the distribution of home fire prevention kits through AMERIND and the NNAFCA.
• Establish and promote the use of a Native American based fire reporting system.
We need to act now to protect our most valuable possessions
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