Long before the industry took shape as we know it today, First Nations were managing the forests with deep respect, cultural knowledge, and longterm thinking, protecting wildlife, nurturing the land, and sustaining our communities.
By the 1990s, machines replaced manual labour in B.C. forestry, increasing output from a few to dozens of loads daily. This industrialization largely left First Nations on the sidelines. At that time, very few Nations had a seat at the table. Decisions were made about our forests, our territories, and our futures without our consent, though often said to be made with “our best interests in mind.” There were no meaningful roles for First Nations in forest planning, governance, or stewardship.
And yet, we persisted. Our people continued to advocate, organize, and assert our rights, pushing back against exclusion and pushing forward toward recognition. Over time, the conversation began to shift. Today, especially since the passing of DRIPA in 2019 and the modernization of forest policy in 2021, we are entering a new phase.
One that moves beyond the fight for inclusion and begins to honour our inherent responsibilities as caretakers of the land.
This shift takes time. It is a deep change in thinking, from fighting for rights to working together for sustainable change. First Nations are leading cultural burns, advancing fuel and wildfire risk reduction strategies, training the next generation of foresters, and building strong forestry businesses that support our communities. The stories featured in this publication, from Stuwix, Ntityix and McLeod Lake to Williams Lake, Atli, Taan Forest, and others, reflect that transition. They show how Indigenous leadership and community-driven approaches are helping bring forestry back into balance.
We are working toward a future where First Nations are not just participants in the forest sector, but full partners. A future where we co-manage the lands and waters of our territories in accordance with our own laws, protocols, and teachings. Where our young people build careers grounded in both traditional knowledge and Western science.
FESBC Board of Directors tour led by Ntityix Resources LP. Photo Credit: Tiffany Christianson Photography
Where fibre is used wisely, ecosystems are restored, and wildfire risks are reduced not only for First Nations, but for all British Columbians.
We carry a responsibility not just to our Nations, but to the health of the land and to future generations. We manage forests for both stewardship and commerce, just as our ancestors did when they traded along routes like the oolican grease trail. Strong forestry businesses and healthy forests go hand in hand because true stewardship requires investment, and good forest management results in both sustainable jobs and resilient ecosystems.
Today, we have the opportunity to return to land-based decision-making that reflects the distinct values and knowledge of each Nation. British Columbia is beginning to adopt a more distinction-based and Nation-based approach to forest land management, moving away from the one-size-fits-all policies of the past. We must ensure that this shift leads to operationally feasible programs in which First Nations are not only included, but integral to the solutions.
The First Nations Forestry Council and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC share a common goal: to advance forest stewardship that is inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven. Through our respective efforts, both organizationsare contributing to the transformation of howforestry is practiced in this province.
This publication is a celebration of that transformation. It is also a call to keep going, to continue investing in Indigenous knowledge, in forest stewardship, and in the people who have always called these lands home.
As you read these stories, I hope you are inspired by what is possible when reconciliation is matched with action and when forest management is shaped by both tradition and innovation.
Kʷukʷscemxʷ | Thank you,
Lennard (Suxʷsxʷwels) Joe
CEO, First Nations Forestry Council
To learn more about other Indigenous-led projects throughout British Columbia, read the full Special Report released by FESBC, in collaboration with the BC First Nations Forestry Council.