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VICTORIA
– The Province has signed forestry
agreements with the Canoe Creek and Canim Lake Indian Bands that will
strengthen their existing harvesting businesses and help manage the mountain
pine beetle infestation, Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman announced
today.
“These agreements support our goal of making First
Nations full partners in the forest sector,” said Coleman. “They will also help
the Province recover as much value as possible from beetle-attacked trees in
the Cariboo.”
Together,
the two bands will receive $2.9 million and access to 315,000 cubic metres of
timber over five years. Canoe Creek’s share totals $1.5 million and 165,000
cubic metres of Crown wood. Canim Lake will receive $1.3 million and 150,000
cubic metres of timber. Both volumes will be harvested within the 100 Mile
House Timber Supply Area.
“This agreement provides an important economic
development opportunity for Canoe Creek,” said Chief Hank Adams. “It gives us
the chance to increase our harvest levels and help guide sustainable forest
management within our traditional territory.”
The Canoe Creek Indian Band consists of two rural communities at Dog
Creek and Canoe Creek, southwest of Williams Lake. Its two logging groups and
silviculture branch currently employ about 10 band members.
The Canim Lake Indian Band is located on the shores of Canim Lake, east
of 100 Mile House and Lac La Hache. It runs one harvesting company, Teniye
Logging Ltd., which directly employs five band members.
“With
this agreement, we will build on our existing forestry programs and industry
partnerships,” said Canim Lake Chief Mike Archie. “That’s good news, not only
for band members but the broader community as well.”
Since
2002, the Province has reached agreements with 116 First Nations, providing
access to 20.8 million cubic metres of timber and $152.2 million in revenue.
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contact: |
Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592
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Chief, Canoe Creek Indian Band 250 440-5645
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Chief, Canim Lake Indian Band 250 397-2227
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