Forestry is a career of monumental work

TAKE THE PULSE

CANADIAN BUSINESS PULSE
— Resurrected from newsprint. Truth that never died. —

← PREV | HOME →

​Aboriginal Aquaculture Association Feedback on Federal Decision Making in Aquaculture

In the spirit of independent decision-making, salmon farming became a choice for economically sustainable investment by First Nations in their traditional territories. Many examples of economic success exist on the west coast in the First Nations.

The Aboriginal Aquaculture Association in Campbell River, B.C., believes it is important to understand the backdrop on which First Nation fish farmers provide present-day feedback. The Association exists to support First Nation communities and entrepreneurs actively involved in salmon aquaculture in British Columbia.

Sioux to Sault Proposal Has Been Made on Transload Facility

Sioux Lookout and Sault Ste. Marie are supporting initiatives to diversify the north western Ontario and Ring of Fire economy, making a proposal for a trans-load facility that will facilitate raw materials both trucked and transported via rail.

Sault Ste. Marie EDC CEO Tom Dodds says location, history and infrastructure led to his city's organization working with Sioux Lookout, "Our concept is the same and we see the synergies that could be created from an east west route," Dodds said.

Bruce Frank discusses protocol agreement at Aquaculture Conference

Bruce Frank representing the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation joined Creative Salmon's Tim Rundle, General Manager, in discussing the formalized protocol agreement that was two decades in the making, during a First Nation session organized by the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association at the 2015 Canadian Aquaculture conference in Nanaimo this June.

Creative Salmon is the largest producer of Chinook salmon in the world, owning their own hatchery and working with a parent company Lion's Gate Fishery that distributes the product world-wide.

Rundle explained to the aquaculture meeting in Nanaimo that Creative Salmon operates four sites to grow out thousands of fish each month. The company, says Frank, "is a major employer of First Nations from the Tla-o-qui-aht communities as well as folks from nearby Ahousaht." Frank says the First Nation has achieved a goal in signing a protocol agreement with the long-time salmon producer. Creative Salmon is celebrating their 25th year of growing salmon on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

"We applaud Creative Salmon. Now we are looking at economic development and business development opportunities that go way beyond politics. We started with a liaison officer in Creative Salmon," and Moses Martin was essential personnel in establishing better communication which led to the protection of clam beaches, trap-lines, and access to freshwater outlets.

Frank recounted a long-standing effort to work with the company that was beginning in earnest in 2000 and achieving milestone events in cooperation with the community in 2004, and especially during the years of 2008 to 2012. Now the company meets quarterly with Tla-o-qui-aht in a fish-farm committee currently chaired by Frank. "We have responsibility for wild salmon enhancement projects, and education of skilled employees.

Frank discussed the protocol agreement which include Chinook-only in the Creative Salmon net-pens, and no night-lights on sites, and no anti-foulant used on the nets, and a fish density not exceeding 10 kg per cubic metre.
Frank says, "We live here, and we might as well work together to bring prosperity to our families. The five Hawith (hereditary chiefs) had to be convinced of the benefits," before this agreement could be signed, sealed and delivered to the Nuu Chah Nulth people on the west side of Vancouver Island.

TAKE THE PULSE

CANADIAN BUSINESS PULSE
— Resurrected from newsprint. Truth that never died. —

← PREV | HOME →

GIS Becoming an Essential Service in Land and Asset Management

"There is a higher demand in the spring time for the Geographic information system (GIS) training in north west Ontario," says Jordan Shana, owner, Northern GIS, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. "We are busy delivering courses two per month from January to April each year." Training continues throughout the year, and Northern GIS works extensively in other GIS projects throughout the year as well. "We get calls to do specific GIS training in communities at any time during the year. We run 15 to 20 courses per year and these run with a maximum 10 people per course, or a minimum three or four students," in Northern Ontario, often using the lab facilities of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre in Thunder Bay.

Building Awareness of Forestry Resources and Management Techniques

The team at Manitoba Forestry Association is working with Patricia Pohrebniuk, Executive Director, to expand knowledge, awareness, and ensure sustainability of forests in Manitoba, which is no small undertaking in a province rich in boreal forests. The programs they deliver across the province bring new awareness to diverse groups in the general public and corporate world of Manitoba forestry and resources.

First Nation members belong to the organization and work on various committees, and the MFA works across the province in collaboration with teachers and schools. “We are a non-profit charitable organization,” explains Pohrebniuk, “working with schools, private landowners, and First Nations with programs designed for each meeting,” and on-going public awareness programming at forest centres in the province that are open from May to end of August each year.

Good Works Great Training Brings Awards and Prosperity

"Tsi Del Del is the name of our community in the Chilcotin language meaning Red Stone," explains Chief Percy Guichon." The company started 19 years ago, "out of need to put our youth in the major forest industry that is operating around us, as a way of ensuring we had a company and meaningful way to manage Red Stone resources." The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) announced: 

Chief of the Alexis Creek Indian Band, and Tsi Del Del Enterprises of Chilanko Forks, B.C., won the FPAC/AFN Business Leadership Award. Chief Guichon was honoured on Jul 14, 2011, at the AFN General Assembly in Moncton.

Klahoose First Nation Setting an Independent Course for the Future

At Klahoose First Nation, administration facilities put a new face on the future overlooking Desolation Sound from Squirrel Cove, "now being built from our own-source revenue," explains Chief Ken Brown.

First Nation Wildfire Protection Plan Urgently Needed In BC

First Nation Wildfire Protection Plan Urgently Needed In BC
By Malcolm McColl

The Mountain Pine Beetle has devastated forests all over British Columbia, and
the increase in dead and dying trees has also increased the risk of wildfire. Brent Langlois
works in forest fuel management for First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS),
and says, "With over 100 First Nations communities in British Columbia imbedded
within Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) infested landscapes, the challenge to decrease the
effects of catastrophic wildfires is enormous. Beyond these MPB communities are an
additional 100-plus communities that are also at risk due to dramatic increases in forest
fuel loading."

Brent says the Forest Fuel Management Department of FNESS has a mission to
help First Nations develop safer and healthier communities through Community Wildfire
Protection Planning (CWPP). Two professional RPFs are available to monitor plans and
projects, and three technical staff members provide education and facilitation services to
First Nations communities. It is important that Bands take the time to find a forest
professional who can work on their behalf, developing prescriptions and completing
treatments on the ground. Regular meetings with clients ensure good two-way
communications, and Brent says the participating communities "give us frank and regular
feedback."
The potential for devastating wildfires is always present, evident from the 2009
season. "Seventeen Bands (and their numerous reserves) were directly impacted with
evacuation alerts and/or orders in southern BC alone this past year, and many others were
impacted with smoke/health concerns," said Brent. The costs to complete each stage of
treatment are high, and there is concern that inadequate funds will not allow all
communities to complete and then maintain their treatments. Brent stresses the urgent
need for communities to engage in the protection planning process with FNESS, which
can help communities form essential and positive work relationships with other integral
agencies, such as the Ministry of Forests, INAC, and NRCAN.
FNESS is in the midst of a forestry crisis. Brent says, "Currently, we are engaged
at the planning stage with 78 communities (with 28 submitted plans this past season
alone), 11 at the prescription stage, but only 4 at the operational stage." He notes that
there has been a spike in activity this year, and along with it, a substantial decrease in
available funds. "This year we have projected the funds for the communities listed above
at $4.4M," says Brent. "With over 200 Bands total, the costs will be substantial."
Recruiting and retaining qualified First Nations staff to lead the work, as well as
documenting and sharing best practices, also bear costs. According to Brent, the task
remains to ensure necessary funds to carry on the urgent work in communities at risk.

TAKE THE PULSE

CANADIAN BUSINESS PULSE
— Resurrected from newsprint. Truth that never died. —

← PREV | HOME →

Timber Tenders Under First Nations Management

Mack McColl
mack.mccoll.businesspulse


Although long term area based tenure has been a goal for First Nation’s in BC in recent years, the non-replaceable forest license(NRFL) model being offered by the province through its Direct Award Tenure program is proving more replaceable than first thought.

"Some of these agreements are in the third round of five year non-replaceable licenses, " said Keith Atkinson, CEO, First Nation Forestry Council. "Secure long term tenures have not yet been offered."