The Terrace Slandard, Wednesday, May 7, 1997 - “y
a alle led eee

INATIO! WEEK :

ee

MAY 4-10, 1997

| ____.

Kitamaat to benefit
from forest program

IN B.C. FORESTRY is to the
economy what trees are to the
forest: essential to its existence.
Although always connected to
the forest, the First Nations

community has not necessarily

been directly ‘involved in
forestry.

. The First Nations Forestry
Program ‘encourages First Na-
tions throughout Canada to par-
ticipate in forest economic de-
velopment. The response to the
first request’ for proposals -was
overwhelming with 43 projects
approved... -

An example of support in the

Skeena area is the $35,000 that
will assist the Haisla Nation,
through the Kitamaal Village
council, to develop possible
economic . development op-
portunities with help from the
Kamloops Indian Band,

A business feasability study
will be. undertaken to explore
the possibility of devéloping a
log home export business to op-
erate from the Kitamaat area.

By working with and learning
from Kamloops band members,
the Haisla- Nation will expand
their knowledge and experience
in this area.

Throvgh this cooperation, the
two first nations communities
will develop: forestry expertise
and explore this important eco-
nomic opportunity. ;

Another example is the
$30,000 contribution to assist
the Kispiox Band council in its
efforts to create a community
forestry development —_ plan
while increasing forestry aware-
ness Within this First Nations
community.

' The council, which already
has a record of activity in forest
management through a
watershed restoration project,
will expand its efforts through
the creation of a community
committee ands, will explore
other possible value-added and
recreational opportunities,
' FRAC money has also played

a significant role in the coun-

cil’s activities,
Jointly financed by the Cana-

dian Forest Service. (CFS) and

the Department of Indian Af-
fairs and Northern Develop-
ment, the First Nations Forestry
Program ‘was established to en-
hance economic opportunities
for First Nations both on and
off reserves.

The program provides finan-

cial and technical assistance to -

First Nations to ensure that they
have the tools and skills needed
to operate and participate in
forest-based businesses across
the country.

*‘Opportunities are created so
that there is more stability and
enhancement with respect to
economic growth,’’ said Nello
Cataldo, BC Collaborative
Forestry Program manager at
the Pacific Forestry Centre.

‘A major aim of the program
is to encourage joint ventures
with off-reserve business part-
ners. The program supports ac-

tivilies that identify, encourage

-and develop partnership - initia-

tives, negotiation, business and
forest management skills.”

139 proposals worth $15.5
million were submitted from in-
terested parties throughout the
province, which overwhelmed
but pleased members of the
management board.

The 43 projects exhausted the
$950,000 budget for the past
fiscal year. In supporting finan-
cially viable forestry operations,
the First Nations Forestry Pro-
gram creates more jobs and in-
creases forest based business
and economic opportunities
both on and off reserve.

Article courtesy the Cana-
dian Forest Service.
For more information on the
First Nations Forestry Pro-

_. gram and projects underway i in

BC, see the forest service’s
Website at:
Attp://www.pfe.c{s.nrcan.ge.ca

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IN HOUSE FINANCING

NATIONAL FOREST
WEEK - MAY 4 -10