Tall Trees, Strong Roots: Untold Stories in Indigenous Forestry
The Canadian forestry industry is experiencing positive shifts in its relationship with Indigenous communities, marked by increased employment, business opportunities, and ownership. Notable examples include Indigenous partnerships in BC and Saskatchewan, among others, showcasing dedication to sustainable practices and fostering real opportunities for workers and businesses. Forestry workers like Roger Lewis and Kayla Buckley in Squamish demonstrate pride and dispel myths about the industry. Innovations, such as the MLTC Bioenergy Centre, highlight Indigenous-led forward-thinking initiatives and innovation. However, challenges persist with the risk of forest fires. Government action is needed to address these issues critical to Canada’s forests and the Indigenous economy.
Indigenous Peoples and Forestry
While the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the forestry industry has not always been perfect, there are real strides being made toward progress and opportunity. Some of these include Indigenous employment and business opportunities along with ownership of forestry companies.
17 million hectares of forest in Canada are under Indigenous forestry management, and there are 14,000 Indigenous-owned forestry businesses supporting over 400 communities and employing 11,600 people. A major development that happened late last year in BC saw four Campbell River area First Nations (The Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’ómoks First Nations) acquire a 34% stake in a new limited partnership with Western Forest Products for $35.9 million, with part of the funding coming from treaty agreements with the province.
Partnerships with the forestry industry are happening all across Canada. In Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is an owner of NorSask Forest Products, the MLTC Bioenergy Centre, and Northwind Forest Products, among other business ventures. Through these business endeavours, MLTC sees $125 million in wholly-owned company revenue, $35.7 million for Meadow Lake Industrial Investments-affiliated companies, and $160 million in total revenue.
“The forestry industry is a living testament to Seven Generations Teaching in Indigenous cultures.”
At the heart of these partnerships are Indigenous forestry workers who take immense pride in the work they do. Some of these workers have been involved in the forestry industry for many generations, passing down knowledge and providing opportunities for future generations. The forestry industry is a living testament to Seven Generations Teaching in Indigenous cultures. Two key examples when it comes to Indigenous involvement in the forestry industry are Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and Squamish, BC. These two regions have a long history of forestry and benefiting Indigenous peoples. The workers in these regions are driving real opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Squamish Nation
The town of Squamish, a small tourist community of about 20,000 people 45 minutes north of Vancouver, was literally built on forestry. According to Ed Altosh, a forester and founding resident, many forest businesses in the town became successful when lumber prices shot up after World War II and grew the town to what it is today. The Squamish Nation has always been actively engaged in forestry and ensuring sustainable practices are recognized throughout.
“On his own time, Roger will go out to his logging site and patrol much of the harvest area to ensure people aren’t starting fires and that visitors are exploring the Squamish territory safely and responsibly.”
While in Squamish late last year, I had the pleasure of engaging in conversations with forestry workers who have extensive experience in the industry. Much of the conversation centred around success stories and how the industry has come so far in having a positive relationship with the Squamish Nation and employing more Indigenous people. One of the workers I had the pleasure of getting to know is Roger Lewis, a seventh-generation forester from Squamish. The dedication that I saw from Roger and his family truly amazed me. This is an Indigenous forester who puts in the extra effort, goes the extra mile each day, and truly cares about the work he does. On his own time, Roger will go out to his logging site and patrol much of the harvest area to ensure people aren’t starting fires and that visitors are exploring the Squamish territory safely and responsibly.
“Block cuts are used to harvest certain areas and have, at times, saved entire towns from forest fires, acting as a break between a town and the forest.”
Another Indigenous worker I had the pleasure of meeting is Kayla Buckley, a Log Sort Manager with Nch’Kay Forestry, the economic development arm of the Squamish Nation. Kayla is someone who takes pride in the work she does in forestry and will often defend the work she does when engaging with Canadians who may not know much about the industry. According to her, there are a lot of misconceptions about how forestry operates in Canada. The clearcutting and unsustainable practices are a thing of the past. Block cuts are used to harvest certain areas and have, at times, saved entire towns from forest fires, acting as a break between a town and the forest. According to Kayla, forestry today is much more sustainable: “We plant three trees for every one we cut down.” This allows for forests to grow back for harvest years later.
The work of Canada’s forestry industry is responsible, more sustainable, and improving each day with new innovations to protect Canada’s natural environment and contribute to fighting climate change. Some of the sensationalized activism misses the details and the nuance of what Indigenous forestry workers are doing to provide responsibly produced forestry products. For example, many of the Indigenous workers I spoke with in Squamish felt that myths regarding modern forestry practices are becoming more common. For example, clearcutting is often brought up as a concern, but Paul Lewis clarified that this is not done here. Clearcutting is not a good practice in today’s forestry industry. Workers today cut in blocks allowing for trees to grow back for harvest in later years.
Meadow Lake Tribal Council
the Meadow Lake Tribal Council’s economic development arm, Meadow Lake Industrial Investments (MLTCII), is leading the way in innovative technology to provide forest products to international markets while also providing energy for homes and businesses in Meadow Lake.
One of these critical and innovative projects is the MLTC Bioenergy Centre, which is using wood waste from the lumber mill to make energy for the NorSask mill and over 2,000 homes in Meadow Lake. The Bioenergy Centre also has exciting innovations, including a conveyor that turns into a pipeline transporting the processed wood waste, something that makes the MLTC Bioenergy Centre quite unique and something that I nerd out on, considering my background as an engineer.
Jeff McCallum, a recruitment and retention specialist, has immense knowledge when it comes to the work MLTCII is doing in forestry. According to Jeff, their work doesn’t encounter much pushback since everyone is brought to the table, and everyone is heard. If there is a special interest group that has concerns, operations are stopped until a solution can be found. This unique and innovative Indigenous way of engaging with stakeholders is part of why MLTCII is so successful.
According to Jeff, “MLTCII wants other Indigenous businesses to be successful; that way, everyone is successful.” It’s a testament to the Indigenous value of kinship and a real abundance mindset, which is not a typical business value. What’s different with an Indigenous business entity is that there is a focus on the environment, ensuring that wildlife is looked after, people are looked after, and the community is at the centre of business. For MLTCII, the work is focused on doing things in a good way and respectfully for all stakeholders involved. Everyone who has an interest is genuinely heard, and the business aspect makes sure their voice is heard and acted on.
“What’s different with an Indigenous business entity is that there is a focus on the environment, ensuring that wildlife is looked after, people are looked after, and the community is at the centre of business.”
There are many issues facing the Indigenous forestry industry including business uncertainty, forest fires, invasive species, among other unique challenges. Talking with workers, businesses, entrepreneurs, and others in the community, there are some real anxieties over the future of the industry and the potential job losses from exterior impacts.
Supporting Indigenous Forestry
Government needs to increase its efforts in providing solutions to the issues facing Indigenous forestry and the forestry industry writ large. Canada must provide more opportunities for Indigenous ownership of forest industry and projects. While some projects are more profitable than others, Indigenous ownership, like the examples I pointed out earlier in BC, offers real opportunities for economic reconciliation and self-determination. Not only is a community financially benefiting from the ownership agreement, but there is also a real sense of pride that the community has an ownership stake. Workers are going to the job site knowing that their family and community have a vested interest in the business.
“Indigenous ownership offers real opportunities for economic reconciliation and self-determination.”
Forest fire mitigation is required to keep Indigenous communities safe and prevent loss of community. Prescribed burning has been topping the discussion for many on the debate in forest fire prevention. According to Bob Gray, a BC Wildfire ecologist, “We’re burning less than 10,000 hectares a year in BC. New Jersey burns more than that.” Prescribed burning plays a major role in burning out dead trees, waste, and other materials that act as fuel for forest fires. For Indigenous communities, cultural burning has been a sustainable practice since time immemorial. Government needs to step up and fund projects that put boots on the ground while working with Indigenous communities in cultural burning practices.