Northeast BC First Nations’ forestry projects receive portion of $20M federal funding

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northeast B.C. First Nations are among a group of Indigenous communities within the province to receive funding for various projects from Natural Resources Canada.

Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN), Saulteau First Nations (SFN) and the Kelly Lake First Nation will be among 67 Nations receiving some $20 million in funding in total.

Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and natural resources announced the funding in a press release on Wednesday, March 19th.

The Kelly Lake First Nation is part of the Kelly Lake Cree Nation, a community of 800 citizens whose territory straddles the B.C.-Alberta border.

Funding received on Wednesday will go toward what is described as a “capacity development project.” The release outlines the project as one that will “increase [Kelly Lake’s capability] to participate, engage and be leaders in forest management activities” on its traditional territory.

FNFN’s funds will go toward an investigation into the development of a partnership between the First Nation and Peak Renewables on converting an idle sawmill near its territory into a full-scale pellet plant.

Plans for the development of the project trace back several years, with the announcement first made in 2020. 

Funds going toward SFN will be toward forest landscape planning.  

“The project will support forest landscape planning to ensure sustainable management and the protection of Indigenous knowledge while engaging community members to gather information and identify important cultural sites within their traditional territory,” reads the release.

The full list of Nations’ projects is available at this website. 

Energeticcity.ca has reached out to each of the northeast First Nations for comment, and will update this story should more information become available.