On August 27 the First Nations, honoured guests, and community members celebrated their culture and history, First Nations’ investment in the forestry economy, and a vision for the future of forestry in the territories.
First Nations have always been engaged in the forest economy in their territories. Since time immemorial, they have harvested trees for building, making canoes, and for cultural and ceremonial purposes. H’kusam Forest, near Sayward, is a shining example of the longstanding sustainable forestry management approach and cultural practices of the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks First Nations: containing evidence of how the Nations once harvested not only trees but parts of trees, planked cedars, bark-stripping, and the carving of living poles. In 2024 and 2025, carvers from the three Nations carved two xwax’wana, or canoes, from windfall cedars in H’kusam Forest, and living poles celebrating the Nations’ culture and forestry history.
First Nations are also determined to exercise their rights and participate meaningfully in the contemporary forestry economy, building on their significant investments in the sector. On Vancouver Island, for example, Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks First Nations collectively invested $35.9 million in the La-kwa sa mukw Forestry Partnership with Western Forest Products in 2024.
Through the 2009 British Columbia-Nanwakolas Framework Agreement, the First Nations have also worked with the provincial government and tenure applicants on an orderly, collaborative referrals process that has resulted in far fewer delays and disruptions on Vancouver Island over the last fifteen years. That has also contributed significantly to positive relationships between the Nations and forestry companies operating on Vancouver Island.
“This is a great start, but it doesn’t stop here,” says Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council. “The First Nations have a vision of Indigenous businesses, contractors and crews working on the ground everywhere in our territories, participating on a level playing field in the industry for the first time since the 19th century.”
Media release – forestry celebration 27.08.2025