Business group calls for more Indigenous participation in forest sector

The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA) is calling for more Indigenous participation in the forest sector and equal footing for the industry. 

At the National Summit on the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy in Thunder Bay, Jason Rasevych, Director of Waawoono Consultancy and ABPA representative, addressed the critical need for innovation and investment to position Ontario as a leader in the forest bioeconomy.

“We need to create a more inclusive and equitable forest sector that recognizes and respects Indigenous rights and knowledge,” said Rasevych. “This includes increasing Indigenous participation in forest management and decision-making for wood supply directives and providing greater access to capital and resources for Indigenous-owned businesses.”

The ABPA also called on the Federal Government to increase its funding from $50 million annually to $500 million as a start to scale the opportunities across Canada and re-introduce the strategic partnership initiative funding for this sector.

For more information, see the press release below: 

Robinson-Superior Treaty, Fort William First Nation Territory, Thunder Bay, Ont.: The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA) called for increased Indigenous participation in the forest sector and an equal footing for the industry at the National Summit on the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy in Thunder Bay today.

Jason Rasevych, Director of Waawoono Consultancy and ABPA representative, addressed the critical need for innovation and investment to position Ontario as a leader in the forest bioeconomy. “We need to create a more inclusive and equitable forest sector that recognizes and respects Indigenous rights and knowledge,” said Rasevych. “This includes increasing Indigenous participation in forest management and decision-making for wood supply directives and providing greater access to capital and resources for Indigenous-owned businesses.”

The ABPA called on the Ontario government to pick up the stalled process of Forest Tenure Modernization which they committed to in 2018 and revenue sharing agreements for stumpage. The ABPA is asking both the Federal and Provincial Governments to support the development of a sustainable and prosperous Indigenous Forest bioeconomy. “The forest sector is a vital part of the Ontario economy, and Indigenous peoples have a significant role to play in its future,” said Rasevych. “We need to work together to ensure that the benefits of the forest sector are shared equitably among all Ontarians.”

The ABPA’s specific calls to action include: 

• Developing a coordinating table to modernize the Crown Forest Stainability Act 1994 and the Forest Tenure Modernization Act of 2011 to recognize First Nations’ rights and mandater their representation on forest management boards and decisionmaking bodies. 
• Amending the Ontario Loan Guarantee Program to include the forest sector to position Northern Ontario as an investment hub for the green economy. 
• Providing greater access to capital for Indigenous-owned businesses in the forest sector through quicker timelines for approvals for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and better coordination with federal ministries.
• Supporting the development of Indigenous-led initiatives in sustainable forest management and bioeconomy development through innovative funding mechanisms such as private public partnerships to derisk new economic modeling for forest management units. 
• Protecting Indigenous cultural heritage by improved forest management practices and operations that leverage nature-based climate solutions.

The ABPA also called on the Federal Government to increase its funding from $50 million annually to $500 million as a start to scale the opportunities across Canada and re-introduce the strategic partnership initiative funding for this sector. “With the new $5 billion Indigenous loan guarantee program we need to make sure that at least $1 billion of these loan guarantees go to the forest sector specially for equity participations of First Nations in the future state of forestry” Rasevych says.