Port Alberni prepares to host inaugural Indigenous Forestry Conference – Chemainus Valley Courier
September 6, 2024
Next week, Port Alberni will be hosting Indigenous leaders, forestry professionals and policymakers from across the province for the first-ever Indigenous Forestry Conference.
The inaugural event will take place Tuesday, Sept. 10 and Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at the Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel.
The event aims to optimize Indigenous participation in the forest economy by uniting leaders, forestry professionals and policymakers to discuss key issues and showcase successful Indigenous-led conservation initiatives. By highlighting both the successes and challenges faced by Indigenous communities, the conference aims to chart a course towards more inclusive and sustainable forestry management practices in Canada.
Wahmeesh (Ken Watts), the elected Chief Councillor for Port Alberni’s Tseshaht First Nation, said the conference came out of a discussion he had with former Huu-ay-aht First Nations elected Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr. Both nations have recently formed partnerships within the forestry industry. Huu-ay-aht has formed Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership with Western Forest Products, while Tseshaht has formed Nashuk Limited Partnership with ROGA Group, which focuses on road building and excavation work.
