Forestry

Making a difference – gaining economic opportunities and advancing the Title and Rights agenda is the mandate of the forestry department.

The Chiefs Executive Council has made significant accomplishments in two key areas:

Economic Opportunities

The Nation is not willing to sit quiet while economic opportunities continue to be extracted from our territory. An informational forum was held with all the forest licencees in our territory providing current legal updates and information pertaining to strength of claim. Forest companies were put on notice regarding renewal of forest licences.

To advance our economic agenda the forestry department has strongly supported the idea of a distinct Okanagan Nation economic unit. This unit will have the ability to absorb economic benefits for share distribution to participating member Bands. We are hopeful that we have positioned ourselves well to absorb a share of future Okanagan timber supply uplifts.

Human resource partnerships have also been established with some of the local forest companies. Building a skilled workforce will prepare us successfully engage in resource sector business operations.

Title and Rights - Moving Forward

Our Chiefs Executive Council recognized that to move forward on forestry issues requires us to work with our neighbouring First Nations. To accomplish this, we held a “Building Alliances” Conference. Hundreds of key First Nation leaders from throughout British Columbia attended. Yes – they are all our neighbours! The momentum and magnitude of this event gave rise to the Title and Rights Alliance (www.titleandrightsalliance.org). The network has the ability to unify all First Nations in British Columbia on common issues and work together with groups such as the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca) and First Nations Summit (http://www.fns.bc.ca) to advance our cause of reconciliation with the Crown.