WILLIAMS LAKE, BC – CNW — Canada’s forest sector continues to be an important generator of jobs in communities across the country, including rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, formally announced a multi-year $321,500 investment in two Indigenous forestry projects in British Columbia that will create jobs and boost the local economy.
The first investment of $173,500 helped the Yune’sit’in Government support the business planning of an Indigenous-owned milling operation. The project, in partnership with Tolko Industries Ltd. and the Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training Employment Centre, helped workers with training and business plan development to take advantage of new opportunities in the forestry sector.
The second investment of $148,000 helped train Esk-etemc First Nation community members in forest management, environmental monitoring, business development, as well as safety and first aid, thus providing knowledge to support the community’s forestry-based economic development.
“These projects bring the skills and training necessary to capture tomorrow’s new opportunities related to our forestry sector. They are great examples of how we are working with Indigenous partners to create good jobs and boost the local economy of communities that rely on forests for their livelihood,” said Amarjeet Sohi,
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources.
Both projects were funded by the Indigenous Forestry Initiative that is part of our government’s Softwood Lumber Action Plan, which offers opportunities and direct funding to Indigenous communities that rely on forests for their livelihood.