Doig River First Nation invests in Blackbird Environmental

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Blackbird Environmental is a company focused on progressive reclamation, ecological restoration and environmental planning, with a focus on delivering science-based solutions. (Blackbird Environmental, Facebook)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Doig River First Nation (DRFN) has made a massive step forward in furthering its environmental goals across northeast B.C. by its investment in an ecological restoration company.

According to a press release submitted to Energeticcity.ca, DRFN has acquired a majority interest in Fort St. John-based Blackbird Environmental on Wednesday, June 11th.

Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

DRFN Chief Trevor Makadahay said the acquisition gives his community “a direct role in how restoration happens on our territory – with our knowledge, our values and our standards at the forefront.”

“Healing the land means more than reclamation,” said Makadahay. “It’s about restoring the balance between our people, the animals and the environment.”

Focusing on progressive reclamation, ecological restoration and environmental planning, with a focus on delivering science-based solutions, Blackbird Environmental was founded in 2014.

The company’s chief executive officer, Matthias Loeseken, said the investment by DRFN represents a long-standing partnership between the two parties dating back several years.

“It wasn’t really something we rushed into,” said Loeseken. “We’ve been working with [DRFN] for years on a range of these types of projects.

“This partnership grew out of that. We started having honest conversations about where we’re headed about a year ago, and realized we actually have a chance to build something together that was bigger than either of us.”

Loeseken started Blackbird after spending some time within the environmental sector, saying he “wanted to create a kind of company that treated people well, did good science and made room for some long-term relationships, not just contracts.”

The new partnership will operate as Blackbird Environmental Limited Partnership, retaining the trusted name and legacy of Blackbird Environmental while Loeseken will retain his position as CEO.

Further details about Blackbird Environmental can be found on the company’s website.