Building people back better: A harm reduction framework for Indigenous emergency management

Abstract

Indigenous communities in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, are frequently impacted by disasters such as floods, wildfires, and endemics. A lack of adequate and culturally appropriate emergency management can lead to trauma. The healthcare sector has addressed similar issues in responses to adverse health conditions through harm reduction, which aims to mitigate negative effects and promote recovery. This conceptual narrative examines how a harm reduction model can enhance emergency management to mitigate negative experiences and trauma and better address the emotional and psychological needs of Indigenous disaster survivors.