1. Governance Working Group

Purpose:

To oversee the TCSC Terms of Reference (ToR) and strategic plan ensuring that the governance structure evolves. Furthermore, based on direction and guidance from the TCSC, the Governance Working Group provides recommendations to the TCSC on governance matters.

Goal:

To maintain a highly professional organization that ensures sustainability of the Thunderbird Collective as a national Indigenous fire stewardship steering committee through governance activities.

Key Activities:

  • Strategic Organizational Planning
  • TC Organizational Development
  • Organizational Design
  • Ethics

2. Cultural Burning Working Group

Purpose:

To support Indigenous wildland firefighting by centering Indigenous Knowledge and practices, and by strengthening respectful collaboration across Indigenous communities.

Goal:

To co-develop Indigenous-informed training standards for wildland firefighting (Types I, II, III) and advance coordinated, reciprocal approaches to wildfire operations and resource sharing across Canada.

Key Activities:

  • Advance Indigenous-Led Wildfire Training and Standards
  • Centre Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Safety
  • Strengthen Indigenous Wildfire Capacity and Career Pathways
  • Build Collective Leadership and Resource Sharing

3. Training Working Group

Purpose:

To revitalize cultural burning and Indigenous land-based fire practices through community-led, intergenerational learning, and demonstration.

Goal:

To strengthen Indigenous-led cultural burning through land-based learning, Youth-Elder knowledge sharing, community gatherings, and partnerships, while supporting stewardship, including post-fire care and monitoring.

Key Activities:

  • Gather and Demonstrate Cultural Fire
  • Strengthen Knowledge and Learning
  • Build Community Capacity and Stewardship
  • Advance Partnerships and Remove Barriers

4. Knowledge Sharing Working Group

Purpose:

To support Indigenous fire stewardship by strengthening how knowledge is shared, connected, and carried forward across Canada.

Goal:

To build a living network and shared hub for Indigenous fire knowledge, resources, and collaboration; support Indigenous-led research and learning; and create ongoing opportunities for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and connection among Elders, Youth, and fire practitioners.

Key Activities:

  • Build and Maintain Content for a Shared Knowledge Hub (Website)
  • Ensure Equitable Access Through Regional Connections
  • Support Knowledge Sharing and Learning Across Generations
  • Strengthen Indigenous-Led Research and Knowledge Creation