TLA Panel 5: Fostering Collaboration & Partnerships, Part 1 First Nations Partnerships – Tree Frog creative
January 15, 2026
The first panel of Day 2 at the Truck Loggers Association Convention examined how partnerships between First Nations and industry are evolving across BC, and what conditions are required for those relationships to succeed in practice. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Lennard Joe, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council; Chief Ronnie Chickite of the We Wai Kai Nation; and Klay Tindall, General Manager of Lil’wat Forestry Ventures. The discussion combined strategic context, community-level experience, and operational detail on the practical realities of First Nations–industry partnerships.
Lennard Joe opened by outlining the scale of Indigenous participation in the forest sector. He said British Columbia is home to 204 First Nations, and that First Nations now hold approximately 10.5 million cubic metres of timber under tenure. In practice, he added, more than 12 million cubic metres is being managed through a combination of tenure holdings, partnerships, and shared decision-making with major licensees. He noted the speed of change, explaining that in 2021 less than six million cubic metres was held under First Nations tenure, making recent growth a significant shift in how forestry is governed in the province. At the same time, he acknowledged that the sector is undergoing a broader transition, with tightening timber supply, rising costs, and major companies responding to new economic realities. In that environment, he said, First Nations are increasingly positioned to invest, acquire tenure, and influence how forests are managed on their territories.
