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First Nations suggest plan for forestry |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Monday, 06 October 2008 |
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TIMBER SALESFIRST NATIONSFORESTS MINISTER PAT BELLFIRST NATIONBC
Provincial First Nations leaders have delivered a six-point forestry plan to Forests Minister Pat Bell they say requires immediate action or increasing frustration could spill out into more court battles and the potential for blockades.
Bell said he's made a pledge to show some tangible results within 30 days.
A key point of the plan calls for the province to create legislation for First Nations forest tenure before the spring 2009 election, transferring wood in B.C. Timber Sales for new First Nations tenures.
B.C. Timber Sales is the government agency that puts about 20 per cent of the annual Crown timber supply up for open bid.
The First Nations -- which have said the province's existing attempt at providing tenure that provides an economic benefit to bands has failed -- want a hand in drafting the legislation.
"Unless there is action in the very near future, there most certainly is the risk for escalating conflict, and that's just not conflict that's already happening in the courts ... We're talking about the kind of potential for major unrest," B.C. Assembly of First Nations representative Shawn Atleo told reporters Monday.
Atleo was among 100 First Nations leaders and representatives who met with Bell in a nearly day-long session in Prince George.
Atleo said the deep frustration in First Nation communities stems from poverty, unacceptable housing conditions and poor drinking water.
The B.C. government tried to carve out economic opportunities in the forest sector by providing First Nations with timber, part of a suite of reforms introduced in 2003 when timber rights were clawed back from major forest companies. However, First Nations have complained that the short-term, low-volume timber agreements have proven uneconomical, particularly when they have to compete against B.C. Timber Sales.
The First Nations' challenges have been exacerbated by the current downturn in the forest sector led by a collapse in the U.S. housing market.
B.C. First Nations Summit representative Ed John noted that neither Tanizul Timber, which pays high Crown timber fees, nor a First Nation research forest that has low fees can find buyers for their timber. "We're really, really in dire circumstances on those small operations we have in our communities that provide some work for some of our people," said John, a hereditary chief of the Tl'azt'en Nation, northwest of Prince George.
Also on the First Nations list:
- Entrenching First Nations tight and rights in legislation to recognize the new relationship promised by the B.C. Liberal government 3-1/2 years ago.
- Changing the current per-person revenue sharing model before the spring election to one based on a 50 per cent share of timber fees collected in a First Nation's traditional territory.
- Creating a First Nations-controlled marketing fund.
- Ensuring B.C. Hydro include First Nations as partners in all future requests for bio-energy proposals.
- And honouring a 20 per cent commitment to First Nations of the federal government's $1-billion beetle aid pledge.
Bell said he saw no problems in moving forward on the First Nations tenure issue, believing that it largely could be done within the existing 10 per cent of the provincial tenure that bands collectively hold.
He said he's already had conversations with First Nations on shifting to longer-term, area-based tenures that look more like a community forests than the existing arrangements which provide a specific amount of timber usually over a five-year period. "I've indicated I'm prepared to work with them to advance that agenda," said Bell.
The forests minister said he's also prepared to examine revenue sharing, but within the existing amount of money set aside.
Bell said it also makes sense to co-operate on marketing, and he supports pushing for the federal government to provide 20 per cent of its beetle funding to First Nations. He said he would work with his colleagues on the complex title and rights issue, as well as the bioenergy file.
"The real sense I had was a frustration that things were not moving as fast as First nations would like, and so I think we need to come back with some tangible results in 30 days, not with more description of where we're at," said Bell.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
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