Growing together: The future of forestry is Indigenous-driven – The Globe and Mail
Many Canadians may not realize we are soon entering National Forest Week, a time to reflect on forests’ vital role in our history, economy and future.
National Forest Week, happening September 21–27, 2025, reminds us to balance economic opportunities with sustainability. Indigenous-led forest ventures already exemplify this. Indigenous communities have managed forests responsibly for thousands of years, and their involvement has increased significantly, with more land and resources under their control, including forest tenures.
In a specific example, we at the Indigenous Resource Network (IRN) saw this responsible management first-hand during our production of our short video documentary about Westbank First Nation’s Forestry company – Ntityix Resources LP – and their sustainable forest management. Ntityix Resources operates near Kelowna, B.C., and follows a Seven Generations Plan, adopting sustainable forest practices rooted in traditional Syilx values.
