The province is supporting the growth of an Indigenous-led forest bioeconomy with new funding for First Nations, including a company in Fort St. James, to develop innovative forest-based products.With $3.9 million in CleanBC funding over three years to expand the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program, the province has launched a new accelerator stream that provides additional funding for First Nation projects at the pilot, commercialization or scale-up phases.
The new facility will create jobs in the region and reduce the need for slash pile burning while reducing carbon emissions. "We are taking action to build a sustainable, innovative forestry sector and create new opportunities for workers, communities and First Nations," said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests.
This brought back local forestry work to the community members. Between 1995 and 2014, Nak’azdli operated Tl’oh Forest Products, a fingerjoint manufacturing facility that was jointly owned with Sinclar Group.