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The Vision Statement“Traditional territories, lands and forest tenures are managed holistically under First Nations authority

by First Nations forestry practitioners and professionals, in accordance with the reconciliation of

Aboriginal title and rights, respect for the ‘spirit of the forest’ and which incorporates traditional

knowledge, values and principles. These attributes are the foundations for a vibrant and sustainable

First Nations forest-based economy that engages youth and results in healthy First Nations

communities and environments.”

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ContentsIntroduction 5

WhatisFirstNationsForestry? 7

Lands 9

Authority 11

Values 13

Economylinkedtocommunitywell-being 15

Summary 17

FirstNationsForestryProgramNationalCouncil 18

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Theobjectivesofthevisioningexercisearethreefold:

1. Toidentify,presentandpromotea10-yearVisionforFirstNationsForestrythatdescribesdesiredoutcomesandmeasuresofsuccess;

2. Toidentifypotentialrolesforgovernment,FirstNationsandindustryincontributingtotheachievementoftheVision;and

3. ToidentifyopportunitiesandprioritiesforfutureFirstNationsforestsectorprogramming.

TheVisionwasdevelopedthroughaseriesoffacilitatedmeetingswithFirstNationsmembersfromtheFirstNationsForestryProgram’snineProvincialandTerritorialManagementCommitteesfromacrossCanada.Toguidethevisioningexercise,fourinterviewquestionswereposedtotheparticipantsateachmeeting:(1)WhatisFirstNationsforestry?;(2)WhatisyourvisionofFirstNationsforestryin10years?;(3)Howwillthisvisionbeachieved?;and(4)HowwillFirstNationsrecognizethatthevisionhasbeenachieved?

Theninereportsoftheregionalvisioningexerciseswerecompletedasstand-alonedocumentsanddistributedtoallFNFPCommitteerepresentatives.Anationalroll-upreportwasthenproducedandendorsedbytheFNFPNationalCouncil.Thefullreportandtheindividualregionalsummaryreportsareavailableonrequest;contactfnfp.bulletin@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

ThesummaryreportrepresentstheVisionofFirstNationsforestrypractitionerswhoserveontheFNFPNationalCouncil.Theviewsandopinionsexpressedinitarethoseoftheauthors.ItdoesnotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofNaturalResourcesCanadaorIndianandNorthernAffairsCanada,whichco-sponsoredthevisioningexerciseundertheFNFP.

Introduction

InMarch2007,theNationalCounciloftheFirstNationsForestryProgram(FNFP)launchedaprocesstodevelopacollectivevisionforFirstNationsforestryfromtheperspectiveofFirstNationsforestrypractitioners.TheVisionistobesharedwithFirstNationscommunitiesandforestrypractitioners,andisintendedtoinformandinfluenceforestpolicyplanners,educatorsanddecision-makersingovernment,industryandacademia.

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CommunityWell-being

AuthorityLands

Values

What is First Nations Forestry?

First Nations forestry

• isholistic;• isintegratedwithcommunityvalues;• involvesstewardshipandsustainability;• speakstoaccesstoresourcesandeconomicself-sufficiency;• isaboutgovernance;• valuespartnershipsandmutualrespect;and• createseconomicopportunities(employment,skillsdevelopmentand businessdevelopment).

Our shared Vision integrates four aspects:

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Lands,andaccesstoforestresources,arekeyelementsofourVisionforthefutureofFirstNationsforestry.

“Lands”includesreserveandtreatylandentitlement(TLE)lands,landsundermodern-dayTreaties(comprehensiveclaims);traditionalterritories,includingthoseterritoriesunderaclaimofAboriginaltitle;andtreatyconceptsofstewardship,asharingoftreatylandsandequitableaccesstoresources.

“Lands”alsoreferstotenuresheldbyFirstNationsand/oraccesstoforestresourcesandtimbervolumes,allocationsandlicencesonCrownlands.

Lands

Key Trend Indicators

• HectaresofforestedlandsunderFirstNationsownershipandcontrol(reservelands)

• Numberandsizeoflandclaimssettledandmodern-daytreatiesenacted

• TimberallocationsandharvestinglicencesonCrownlands(foresttenures,co-managementagreements)

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ThesettlementofcomprehensiveandspecificclaimsacrossCanadaisincreasingthequantumofFirstNationslands.Forexample,totalreservelandsacrossCanadastoodat3.4millionhectaresin2009.Thisamountisprojectedtoreachcloseto5millionhectaresby2022.

AnincreasedlandbaseandgreateraccesstoforestlandsandresourcesarefundamentalenablersthatwillaccelerateFirstNationsparticipationandcontributionstoCanada’sforestsector.Unresolvedlandandtreatyissuesareamajorimpedimenttoforestsectorinvestment,growthandthedevelopmentofpartnershipsbetweenFirstNationsandindustry.

First Nations traditional territories, lands and forest tenures are managed holistically . . .

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Authority

Key Trend Indicators

• ProfessionallyqualifiedFirstNationsforestersandforesttechniciansactivelyengagedinAboriginalforestry

• FirstNationsexercisingforestryregulationsconsistentwithFirstNationsspiritualvalues,landuseplansandtheexercise oftraditionallandandresourceuserights

• Partnershiparrangementsandcomprehensiveco-managementagreementsbetweenFirstNationsandprovincial/territorialandfederalgovernmentsbasedonmutualrespect

• Inter-tribalcollaborationandgrowingvolumeofinter-tribaltradeinforestproductsandservices

• WoodsupplyarrangementsnegotiateddirectlywithFirstNations

• Resourceroyaltyrevenuesthatreducedependenceonannualgovernmentprogramfunding

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Authorityisdefinedheretomeancontrolof–andresponsibilityfor–theplanning,developmentandmanagementofforestedlandsandforestresources.

AuthorityandjurisdictionofFirstNationsforestedlandsarebeingrestoredbyvirtueofseveralfactors:thegrowingexerciseofAboriginalandTreatyrights;theresolutionoflandclaimsandTreatysettlements;andagreementswithprovincesandterritoriestosharedecision-makingauthorityandresourcerevenues,environmentalassessmentprocessesandwide-areaplanninginitiatives.

FirstNationsareassuminggreaterrolesandresponsibilitiesinthemanagementandcommercialuseofforestsasaresultofgrowingprofessionalcompetencyandthesettlementofcomprehensiveandspecificlandclaims.

Revenue-sharingmustbearequirementofanynewprovincial/territoriallicensingorotherarrangementswithindustry.Aswell,forestresourcerevenues,includingroyaltiesandfeespaidfortherighttouseFirstNationsreservelands,shouldbecollectedandmanagedbyFirstNations.Otherpotentialresourcerevenuesthatcouldbesharedincluderoyaltiesforgas,oil,coal,sandandgravel;mineraltaxes;andwaterrentalfeesfromhydroelectricgeneration.

. . . under First Nations authority by First Nations forestry practitioners and professionals, in accordance with the reconciliation of Aboriginal title and rights . . .

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ForFirstNations,theforesthasspecialspiritual,cultural,economicandsocialsignificance.Respectforthe“spiritoftheforest”isthereforeapredominantvalueguidingAboriginalforestry.Forthesereasons,forestmanagementregimesneedtoincorporatetraditionalknowledge,valuesandprinciples.

AdefiningfeatureofeachFirstNation’scustomarylawisaholisticviewoftheland.FirstNationsforestryisabout“thewholeforest”andrefersto“everythingontheland.”

Theforestisaplacethatsustainstraditionallivelihoodsandculturalpractices,includinghunting,fishing,trappingandgatheringfood,waterandmedicinefordomestic,ceremonialandhealingpurposes;andresourcesforbuildingshelters,transportation,heating,cookinganddrying.Inaddition,“respectingthespiritoftheforest”isaboutbeingresponsibleformaintainingtheintegrityoftheforestwhendisturbancesoccur,forexample,byimplementingrestorativemeasures.

RespectingtraditionalknowledgeandharmonizingmultipleusesarecentraltoourVisionforFirstNationsforestry.

Values . . . respect for the “spirit of the forest” and the incorporation of traditional knowledge, values and principles . . .

Key Trend Indicators

• Forestmanagementplans,regulationsandregimes thatrespectsthespiritoftheforestandincorporates FirstNationscustomarylaw,values,traditionalknowledge andthewisdomoftheElders

• Investmentsintraditionallanduseresearchand occupancystudies

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ManyFirstNationsacrossCanadaareforest-dependent:80percentofFirstNationscommunitiesarelocatedinCanada’sforestregions.ForthoseFirstNationswithinoradjacenttoareaswithcommercialforestrypotential,forestrycanofferthebestopportunityforcommunitysustainability,whichcreateswealth,income,jobsandskillsthatsupportcommunityself-reliance.

OneofthekeyingredientsforhealthycommunitiesistheengagementofFirstNationsyouthinforestry-relatedtraining,educationandemployment.Focusedinvestmentsareneededtoprepareyouthforcareersintheforestsector.

Inthefuture,governmentandindustrypartnersareencouragedtoallocatemoreresourcestocommunity-basededucationandon-the-jobtraining.Bythesemeans,literacyandtechnicalandbusinesscompetenciesarestrengthenedandFirstNationscitizenshaveanopportunitytoacquirethebasicskillsrequiredforemploymentinforestry-relatedoccupationsandprofessions.

Economy linked to community well-being

. . . a vibrant and sustainable First Nations forest-based economy that engages youth and results in healthy First Nations communities and environments.

Key Trend Indicators

• AccessbyFirstNationsyouthtoeducationalopportunitiesandsuccessfulcompletionofprofessionaltraininginnaturalresources-relatedfields

• Employmentintheforest-basedeconomy,bothonandoffreserve

• FirstNationsbusinessownershipandpartnershipswithindustry

• Participationinemergingopportunitiessuchasbio-energy,environmentalgoodsandservices,non-timberforestproducts(NTFPs)andprocurementopportunitiesinforestryservices

• Workforceparticipationatalllevelsintheforestsector,fromentry-leveltoseniormanagement

• MarketaccessforFirstNationsforestproductsandservicesfacilitatedthroughincreasedcertificationandbranding

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FirstNationsforestryinvolvesholisticandintegratedlandmanagement,sustainableuseandenvironmentalstewardship,andtherestorationofeconomicself-sufficiency,governanceandcommunitywell-being.Itisaboutrespectingthe“spiritoftheforest,”restoringthevitalityofFirstNationscommunitiesandworkingwiththenaturalresourcesuponwhichwedepend.Intermsofpriorities,allareequallyimportant.

AsFirstNationsforestrypractitioners,ourVisionisaboutthefuture.Itisinformedbyourcollectiveexperiences,theteachingsofourEldersandourdailylivesworkinginforestryinandaroundourcommunities.

OurvisionforFirstNationsforestryin2020isambitiousbutrealisticandachievable.Weareseekingtoachievehealthy,self-reliantFirstNationscommunitiesthatparticipatemorefullyintheforest-basedeconomyinaccordancewiththevaluesandaspirationsofourindividualcommunities.

Wearemakinggoodprogressonseveralfronts.Lookingbackoverthepast15yearsoftheFirstNationsForestryProgram,wehavewitnessedameasurablepositivechangeinourcapacitytogovernandsustainablymanageourforestresourcesandinourabilitytoparticipateinandbenefitfrommajorforestsectoreconomicopportunities.Thisisa“win-win”situationforbothCanadaandFirstNations.Lookingtotheimmediateandlong-termfuture,weneedtobuildonoursuccessesandbestpracticesandtoaccelerateopportunitiesforouryouth.

ThekeyindicatorsidentifiedinthisreportwillhelpusmeasureourprogressinattainingtheVision.AdvancingtheVisionwillrequireongoingcollaboration,supportandengagementbygovernments,industryandneighbouringnon-Aboriginalcommunitiesandinstitutions.

WehopeyouwillsupportourVision,andwelookforwardtoworkingtogetherwithyoutoadvanceFirstNationsparticipationinforestryacrossthecountry.

Summary

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Visioning ExerciseParticipating representatives:

Session facilitators:- JohnDoornbos,Manager,OperationalPrograms,CanadianForestService,NaturalResourcesCanada

- JackSmyth,Chief,ForestryDevelopmentandAboriginalAffairs,CanadianForestService

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RoseKushnirakYukonPTMC

ChrisMcCormickOntarioPTMC

EarlSmithBCPTMC

GordonIronSaskatchewanPTMC

AltonHudsonAtlanticPTMC

RonMatthewBCPTMC

First Nations Forestry Program National Council

Dedicated to the memory of Ron Matthew,whose commitment and contributions to First Nations forestryare remembered with fondness, respect and appreciation.