The ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation and the province have reached a milestone in developing a joint decision-making agreement aimed at job creation, sustainable forestry operations and stable harvesting on northern Vancouver Island.
“The best way to move fibre is by working together, and that is what we are accomplishing with the ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation,” said Ravi Parmar, B.C Minister of Forests. “I am optimistic that this draft agreement will create good-paying jobs and help us in our efforts to provide stability and certainty for our coastal forestry sector, as we deal with Donald Trump’s attack on our forestry sector.”
According to a release from the province, the agreement will be the first of its kind in the forestry sector under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the Forest and Range Practices Act.
The province states the deal will enable shared creation of forest landscape plans and joint sanctioning of related forest operations plans
“This agreement is a step toward reconciliation by recognizing ʼNa̱mǥis jurisdiction in our territory and ensuring forestry management reflects our stewardship values, while contributing to economic stability in the region,” said Chief Victor Isaac of the ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation. “The agreement sets out that we will be jointly establishing the forest landscape plan and approving the forest operations plan for TFL 37 that overlaps our territory. By making those decisions jointly, we will ensure these plans reflect the ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation’s commitment to ecosystem health, transparency and economic sustainability.”
The province says the agreement allows an Indigenous governing body and B.C. to exercise joint decision-making.
“A joint decision-making agreement between the ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation and B.C. will create economic sustainability and certainty for everyone in the forestry industry,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation. “These types of agreements address the legacy of colonialism and allow government to work closely with Nations on decisions that affect them.”
The agreement is part of the province’s commitment to reconciliation and aims to bring transparency, predictability and stability to the forestry sector.
