Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Jean Marie River ( Mar 03/00) - This is the second article in a series focusing on logging in the Deh Cho region.

Logging isn't a full-fledged industry in the tiny community of Jean Marie River, but the related business of home-building could result in revenue and employment just the same, according to Chief Stanley Sanguez.

"I've got people calling the community here saying, 'I heard you guys got a mill that could build houses,'" he said. "So right now in our business plan we're going to be looking at housing packages."

The band has built a number of traditional-style log cabins at McGill Lake over the past few years as well.

GNWT regional forester Steve Gooderham said the home-building niche could be a good fit for the Jean Marie River Band.

"They do have the past history of being very good log-house builders. It's a natural tie-in for them," said Gooderham.

Sanguez said constructing cabins and lodges is also a distinct possibility. Jean Marie is also eyeing tourism, so having a lodge would be very beneficial, he noted. He hasn't ruled out the idea of sending logs south to a future mill in Fort Liard either, he said.

The band has a $17,000 business plan to be developed for the new fiscal year, he noted. One of the challenges will be to find sources of funding for the mill, he said.

Human Resources Development Canada, and Employment, Culture and Education support will be sought in addition to the use of Local Training Authority dollars, according to Sanguez.

"Hopefully by summertime we'll identify sources of money," he said. "Right now a lot of planning has to be done."

Kevin McLelland, of RWED, and GNWT forestry consultant Rick Leighton visited Jean Marie River last week to discuss the future of the mill. Leighton, who is in his third year as a consultant with the GNWT, said there is good quality timber in the Jean Marie River area. He said they chose to selectively harvest aspen to build homes because aspen is generally the least sought-after commodity, so the most valuable resource remains for future use.

"And they can get enough timber initially off individual permits to keep everything going," he said. "As they get comfortable with that, and they're making money, then they can expand into other areas as they so choose ... that little facility in Jean Marie will basically create enough employment for what they want."

In Fort Liard the harvesting will be done on a fire-management basis, to protect values at risk, such as the hamlet itself and the gas wells and rigs, Leighton noted.

Leighton said financing has been secured for the mill, it's just a matter of getting a forest-management agreement completed between the Acho Dene Koe and the GNWT.

"The focus is going to be a First Nations sawmill," he said, "it's not going to be a joint-venture where you get some people from the south making all the money and nobody else does."

The project will be done on a step-by-step basis, allowing the community to take over the forestry industry, he suggested.

"That's the main focus, to help the communities to get empowered," he said.