Forest management agreement signed in Fort Resolution
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 3, 2014
DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
The GNWT and a Fort Resolution company - owned by the community's two aboriginal governments - have signed a forest management agreement designed to create employment and business opportunities.
The signing took place on Feb. 28 in Fort Resolution.
The company - Timberworks Inc. - was established by Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN) and the Fort Resolution Metis Council.
An array of local and territorial leaders and officials, along with community residents, were on hand to witness the signing and sing the praises of the agreement.
"Today is a big day for our people because we finally have employment opportunities coming," said DKFN Chief Louis Balsillie.
Kara King, president of the Fort Resolution Metis Council, also expressed optimism.
"The economy is at a standstill right now in the South Slave and hopefully this will be able to create jobs and employment for our people" she said.
King also noted the agreement marks the first time in a very long time that the First Nation and the Metis Council have worked together.
"It's a fresh start for both of us," she said.
The impetus for the agreement has been a proposed wood pellet mill in Enterprise. Trees harvested in the Fort Resolution area will feed that mill once it is built.
"It's a huge step for us," Brad Mapes, the Hay River businessman seeking to build the mill, said of the agreement in Fort Resolution.
Mapes hopes that harvesting in the Fort Resolution area can begin sometime next winter.
There has been no significant harvesting of wood in the area since a sawmill closed 16 years ago.
The forest management agreement was signed by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger; Timberworks' secretary-treasurer Raymond King, representing the Fort Resolution Metis Council; and Timberworks' director Leonard Beaulieu, representing Deninu Ku'e First Nation. The signing was officially witnessed by Premier Bob McLeod.
Miltenberger said it is a unique agreement that will hopefully allow a major industry to be set up in the next few years in the South Slave.
"We're going to collectively manage it right and it's going to last us for decades," he said. "So this is truly a good news day."
McLeod said he is very confident the proposed pellet mill in Enterprise will be built, noting the private business is very well researched and has strong ownership.
"When you look at the master plan, I certainly believe that it's going to happen, and it's going to be feasible and it's going to be sustainable," he said.
It is critical for the NWT to have an industry besides mining, the premier added. "In the Northwest Territories, we're always hostage to a boom-and-bust economy, and the best way to deal with that is to diversify our economy."
McLeod noted the pellet mill project should lead to about 600 jobs throughout the NWT, adding it is hoped another forest management agreement will be signed soon in Fort Providence.
George Kurszewski, a consultant and negotiator for Timberworks Inc., noted the agreement in Fort Resolution is the result of a year of work.
Kurszewski said it provides a diversified approach so forest resources will be developed in the right way.
"It must be developed in a way that benefits Fort Resolution first," he said. "If it benefits Fort Resolution, it benefits the whole territory."
As holder of the 25-year forest management agreement, Timberworks will have non-exclusive access rights to harvest from Crown lands in a prescribed area.
Timberworks will be responsible for preparing timber harvest plans, participating in operating plans, making wood available for appropriate uses, building local capacity in the forest business, and complying with forest legislation and other applicable laws.
The GNWT will provide guidance on timber harvest planning and business planning.
