Capacity Building Projects
To help reach the goal of increasing First Nations participations, FFT developed a process to ensure that funds allocated to help with First Nations participation projects are strategically committed to those that will ultimately increase First Nations participation employment opportunities in FFT silviculture and meet FFT objectives and the objectives for First Nations participation projects.
The objectives of the First Nations participation projects are:
- Enhance the ability of First Nations to operate and participate in silviculture projects;
- Provide employment opportunities to First Nations workers in silviculture activities close to their communities;
- Enhance the capability of First Nations to conduct and participate in forest management planning activities; and
- Encourage opportunities to build strong relationships and cultural understanding.
Expected outcomes of projects include, but are not limited to:
- Increased skills of participants in sustainable forest management planning;
- Increased skills of participants in silviculture activities;
- Increased supervisory skills and practical experience of participants;
- Measurable increase in employment of First Nations individuals in the FFT program;
- Increased employment of program participants in silviculture work and other forestry activities outside of the FFT program;
- Increased business development and management skills; and
- Increased cultural awareness opportunities and better relationships between the FFT program and First Nations.
Please see the Forests for Tomorrow First Nations Participation Projects: Interim Funding Policy Framework for details.
| Project Name | Recipient | Approved Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Silviculture Surveys Training Initiative | Shuswap Nation Tribal Council | $25,100.00 |
| First Nations Forestry Liaison | Shuswap Nation Tribal Council | $86,500.00 |
| Silviculture Surveys Training | Oliver Thomae/Nupqu | $5,000.00 |
| Silviculture Surveys Training | Lillooet Tribal Council | $20,000.00 |
| Danger Tree Assessment/Silviculture Surveys Training | Conifex | $3,185.41 |
| Surveys/Recce Training | Conifex | $2,075.02 |
| Completion of the NTA Community Integrated Investment Plan | Forsite | $21,727.02 |
| Completion of the Simpcw, Skeetchestn, and Lillooet Tribal Council Community Integrated Investment Plans | Forsite | $6,638.22 |
| Establishment of GIS Department | Bonaparte Indian Band | $17,500.00 |
| GPS Training | Conifex | $1,736.14 |
| Youth Forestry Training Camp | Blue Collar | $30,000.00 |
| Danger Tree Assessment Training | Lillooet Tribal Council | $15,000.00 |
Project Details
Silviculture Surveys Training (Shuswap Nation Tribal Council)
Phase I: 5 Day Intermediate-Level Course, June 2009
Phase II: 10 Day Certification-Level Course, July 2009
Phase III: Accreditation Exam, July 2009
The Silviculture Surveys Training Initiative had a total of 13 participants. All participants were involved in Phase I, 12 were involved in Phase II, and 8 were involved in Phase III of the initiative. Of the 8 participants that wrote the Accreditation Exam, 8 passed!
First Nations Forestry Liaison (Shuswap Nation Tribal Council)
This project has put in place a First Nations Forestry Liaison that could identify challenges to First Nations involvement within the FFT program and to augment participation by increasing effective communication to facilitate this goal.
Danger Tree Assessment/Silviculture Surveys Training (Conifex)
Four First Nations individuals took part in the Danger Tree Assessment Training. All four individuals are now certified and have had the opportunity to apply their training while on contract with Conifex.
Surveys/Recce Training (Conifex)
The objective of this training was to provide First Nations individuals with a basic introduction to free growing recces and regeneration performance surveys. There were two First Nations individuals who completed this training, one from the Tl'azt'en First Nations Band and the other from Fort St. James Forest District.
Community Integrated Investment Plans
The scope and intent of the Community Integrated Investment Plans (CIIP) is to inegrate First Nations resource objectives into the FFT candidate unit prescriptions and to act as a vehicle to involve the First Nations communities in the numerous work opportunities that may be generated by the FFT Program within their traditional territories.
The following CIIPs have been completed: NTA, Simpcw, Skeetchestn, and Lillooet Tribal Council.
Establishment of a GIS Department (Bonaparte Indian Band)
The purpose of this project is to increase Band capacity and improve operational efficiency by developing a GIS department. The project will allow the Bonaparte Indian Band the ability to meaningfully address potential impact on cultural heritage resources from FFT activities as well as those from other resource industries. This will also further the Band's ability to meet the goals and objectives of the 'Bonaparte Land and Resource Management Plan', and generate employment opportunities for First Nations within the FFT program.
GPS Training (Conifex)
Two First Nations fallers were trained to use GPS units to locate trees marked for removal. The training provided increased security for the planting crews and expanded the skills set of the First Nations involved.
Youth Forestry Training Camp (Blue Collar)
The First Nations Youth Forestry Training Program will be a 5 week winter program starting in January 2010 in Williams Lake, BC. The training will provide the participants with immediate employment as they obtain and utilize a vast arrray of cerifications and skills (including chainsaw and bushsaw safe operations, ATV-Snowmobile driver training, forest fire fighting certification and First Aid). The project will give the youth a better understanding of the forestry industry. This will create the basis for future partnerships and economic opportunities between First Nations and the forestry industry. Our project will also contribute to the establishment of a skilled workforce through the growth and development of trained First Nations youth to undertake and expand upon new and existing initiatives in their own communities and by providing opportunities for future employment and entrepreneurship.