Comment Submitted by David Andrew Diabo, Assembly of First Nations

The process we've developed in conjunction with the Canadian federal government is for the affected First Nation to declare a "Statement of Local Emergency" (SOLE) through their Chief, council or executive director, which is sent to the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) Provincial Emergency Management Coordinator (PEMC), who in turn sends it to the Headquarters...this then sets in motion the process for Emergency Management service delivery. This process is enacted by AANDC, and as they are not a service provider, they would contact the provincial emergency management office to provide required services once the Band is overwhelmed (Which is the case if they've issued a SOLE or made a declaration) For major events, a declaration of a "State of Emergency" is ssued from the Chief, council, or executive director, and follows this same process. AANDC is the federal department that oversees all Aboriginal affairs and its Minister accepted the responsibility to oversee their emergency Management. The federal government's term "Aboriginal" covers First Nations, Inuit, and Metis (Mixed blood). The Assembly of First Nations oversees only First Nations...the Inuits and Metis have their own organizations that oversee their affairs.