A/HRC/27/66 Biological Diversity, took place in Baguio City, Philippines, in November 2008. The principles and recommendations developed during this consultation, which included the call for engagement with and reliance on free, prior and informed consent, provided the basis for the creation of the UN-REDD Programme’s “Operational guidance on the engagement of indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities.”36 This guidance material has been distributed to UN-REDD Programme staff, United Nations country team staff and national government and civil society counterparts involved in any UN-REDD Programme activities that may impact upon the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples or other forest-dependent communities. This commitment to free, prior and informed consent illustrates both the value of and the challenges inherent in maintaining the principles of free, prior and informed consent in the context of disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness initiatives. B. Partnership between indigenous peoples and governments 59. In order to be successful, disaster risk reduction initiatives require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders. In this regard, strong partnerships between indigenous peoples and government agencies working in disaster risk reduction are essential. For these partnerships to be successful, however, indigenous peoples’ right to participate in decisionmaking must be respected — indigenous peoples need to be consulted and involved in disaster risk reduction initiatives at all stages. 60. The State of Washington in the north-west of the United States of America has a unique disaster risk reduction and response model that recognizes the State’s 26 federally recognized Indian tribes, and recognizes that each sovereign tribe has an independent relationship with the other tribes and with the State. The Centennial Accord37 was concluded in 1989 between tribal nations and the State of Washington in order to better achieve mutual goals through an improved relationship between their sovereign governments. Since its inception, the Accord has provided a framework for government-togovernment relations. The Washington State Emergency Response Commission, which was established within the framework of the Centennial Accord, also recognizes the importance of developing partnerships with tribal nations and their tribal emergency response commissions. It works to encourage partnerships between local emergency planning committees and tribal nations. Tribal nations have the same responsibilities as States under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (adopted by Washington State in 1987). Some tribes have established their own tribal emergency response commissions, while others have opted to enter into agreements with their local emergency planning committees. 61. In Canada, the treaties include a famine clause, which has been implemented in a recent joint fire and emergency services agreement between the Maskwacís Cree and Wetaskiwin. The Government of Canada also recently announced a new approach to emergency management on Indian reserves in order to strengthen emergency management support to First Nations communities. When the city of Calgary experienced a major flooding event in 2013, this approach led to increased partnerships between the federal, 36 37 16 Available from www.un-redd.org/Portals/15/documents/events/20090309Panama/Documents/UN%20REDD%20IP %20Guidelines%2023Mar09.pdf (accessed 4 August 2014). State of Washington, Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, Centennial Accord Between the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in Washington State and the State of Washington. Available from www.goia.wa.gov/Government-to-Government/Data/CentennialAccord.htm (accessed 4 August 2014).