Landmark forestry agreement supports increased First Nations participation

The Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’ómoks First Nations (the Nations), and Western Forest Products Inc. have reached an agreement for the Nations to acquire a 34 percent interest from Western in a newly formed Limited Partnership. The Province of British Columbia helped to facilitate the partnership through Incremental Treaty Agreements with the Nations, all of whom are in Stage 5 of the British Columbia Treaty Process. 

The partnership will consist of certain assets and liabilities of Western’s Mid Island Forest Operation and the operations will cover approximately 157,000 hectares of forest land in the traditional territories of the Nations near the communities of Campbell River and Sayward on eastern Vancouver Island. It will manage an allowable annual cut of 904,540 cubic metres of timber and includes a long-term fibre agreement to support Western’s British Columbia coastal manufacturing operations. 

Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks, who share significant areas of their respective territories, have been stewards of their forests for millennia. Nanwakolas Council assisted the four Nations in concluding the Agreement. 

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024.