Media

[Globe and Mail] Pine beetle outbreak heats up forest-fire threat on reserves

[NEW]Thomas and Porter Raise Alarm over Pine Beetle Devastation

Season 6, Episode 17 Talk Politics February 17, 2008

First Nations Forestry Council President Leonard Thomas and FNFC board member Dave Porter appear on the nationally syndicated CPAC news program "Talk Politics" and discuss the devastation caused by the Mountain Pine Beetle in B.C.'s interior. Over 13 million hectares of land have been affected by this destructive insect. Porter and Thomas, talk about how the infestation has been a major cause of concern in First Nations' communities throughout BC's interior and is now spreading into neighbouring Alberta.

Season 6, Episode 30 PrimeTime Politics February 6, 2008

Chief Leonard Thomas, president of the First Nations Forestry Council, and Dave Porter, FNFC Board member talk to host Peter Van Dusen about the extent of the devastation caused by the pine beetles in British Columbia.

[Slideshow] - Ecosystem Stewardship Planning

What is Ecosystem Stewardship Planning? How can our nation role ESP into existing land use plans? View this slideshow for an introduction to Ecosystem Stewardship Planning.

Issue Sheets

The First Nations Forestry Council produced a series of Issue Sheets in 2006 to address pressing forestry related issues.

Recommendations for a more effective Consultation and Accommodation Process. [PDF] This Fact Sheet recommends a strategic approach for First Nations to the provincial referrals process, including: Develop a territorial land and resource stewardship plan; Prioritize referral responses to care for highly impacted sites Engage government at the earliest possible time and set a meeting schedule Create an accommodation proposal to be used in negotiations with other levels of government.

Social and Cultural Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle on a First Nation [PDF] In 2006 the Ulkatcho First Nation undertook a pilot program in order to study the Social and Cultural Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle. Over the course of the project the following topics were raised as areas of concern: Sustainability: Key to the Future of the Community Enhancing the institutional capacity of the community Focus on Youth and Children Outreach to Off-Reserve Band Members Community Safety

Evolving Legal and Policy Landscape as it Pertains to Forest Lands and Resources: Obligations to Consult and Accomodate [PDF] This Fact Sheet provides an overview of the impacts and implications of the Haida, Taku and Huu-Ay-Aht Decisions.

Fire interface management for BC First Nations homes and communities [PDF] Fire Interface, or wildland urban interface, is the area where structures and other human development meet wildland areas containing flammable vegetation (trees, brushes, grasses). A fire reoccurring in this area is called an interface fire. The Fire Interface Management Fact Sheet provides useful funding and research links to assist Mountain Pine Beetle affected First Nations communities.

Film: When the Forest Bleeds

Film: When the Forest Bleeds [large]
Film: When the Forest Bleeds [small]

When the Forest Bleeds examines the cultural, economic, and social effects of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on First Nations communities. Leadership, elders, youth and families share their perspectives on the causes of infestation, and possible solutions.

Chief Lynda Price Ulchaltko First Nation: We have 203 First Nations communities in BC, and out of those 203, 97 of those are affected, basically what we want to do is to develop a new relationship with the province and the federal government to have meaningful input into providing solutions to the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.

Chief Leonard George (Nak’azdli First Nation):

Our elders keep telling us that what they see down the road is some kind of starvation, the people are going to go through some very tough times, because they [the elders] see what is going on, on the land. The harvesting, the use of herbicide, the mining industry coming in, the pipeline impacts, and the pine beetle, everything is converging upon us. Our elders tell us about what is going to happen in the future, about seeing red all over the country, in some cases they talk about how this is not a new epidemic, it has always been there, the weather used to get cold and kill it.

Chief David Walkem (Cook’s Ferry Indian Band): The government originally estimated that the pine beetle epidemic would peak at around 2013, but over the last two years they have revised those estimates, now so that the peak is within the next year or two. It just shows how fast this beetle is moving because all the environmental conditions are right.

The country that we are in is our breadbasket, generations and generations have hunted and gathered. There are plants out here that at different times of the year we utilize for foods and medicines. And this is deer range it is where we get our food for the year. The size and the scope of the death of the pine trees is something that we have never seen before, even in our stories it is something we have never seen before.

This is an epidemic that goes beyond cultural boundaries, this is everyone’s problem and we’re a part of the solution. I would hope that 20 years from now, our young people are actively involved in the management of our lands and that the actions that we have done today are going to pay off in that generation and the generations beyond that, I mean, we are only keeping that land for them.

Newsletters/Bulletins

Mountain Pine Beetle Bulletin Issue 1

Mountain Pine Beetle Bulletin Issue 2

Pine Beetle News Issue 4 Apr. 2006

Pine Beetle News Issue 7 Nov.2006

 

Press Releases from the Working Group

APRIL 20, 2006 | From the Spring Forum, Prince George:
First Nations Chiefs and Minister of Forests and Range
agree to proposed funding and benefits agreement for an
organized response to the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic
» download PDF

APRIL 11, 2006
First Nations Working Group report back to First Nation leaders of Mountain Pine Beetle impacted communities
» download PDF

20 SEPT, 2005
PUBLIC STATEMENT
First Nations MBP public statement.
» download PDF

12 SEPT, 2005
NEWS RELEASE
Adams Lake Indian Band seeks equitable opportunities...
» download PDF

8 SEPT, 2005
NEWS RELEASE
Burns Lake Indian Band declares Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic
a ‘mega-disaster’...
» download PDF

Media Coverage

• MAY 29, 2006
by Dawn Walton| GLOBE & MAIL
'Natural Disaster in Slow Motion'
» download PDF

• OCT 12, 2005
by Jeff Nagel | BLACK PRESS
BC Told to Brace for Global Warming
» download PDF

• SEPT 17, 2005
by Kim Thompson | WHISTLER QUESTION
Lil’wat fight back against Pine Beetle
» link to Whistler Question [opens in New Window]

• SEPT 12, 2005
94 XFM PRINCE GEORGE
News item: Stephen Harper would spend $1B over 10 years on MPB; Minister Coleman and MPB funds
» download PDF

• SEPT 12, 2005
Press Release | Conservative Party
Conservatives Commit One Billion Dollars to Fight B.C.'s Pine Beetle Infestation
» download PDF

• SEPT 9, 2005
by Mark Hume | GLOBE & MAIL
Chief sees forest beyond ravaged trees
» download PDF

• SEPT 8, 2005
Minister Rich Coleman| Letter to WILLIAMS LAKE TRIBUNE
Setting the record straight about Pine Beetle stumpage rates
» download PDF

• SEPT 3, 2005
by Gordon Hoekstra | PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
First Nations Hosting Beetle Forum
» download PDF

• AUG 31, 2005
by Joyanne Pursaga | QUESNEL CARIBOO OBSERVER
MLA calls for Beetle Fund Facts Details
» download PDF

• AUG 29, 2005
by Peter Kennedy | GLOBE & MAIL
Beetlemania adds new riff to softwood lumber dispute
» download PDF

• SEPT 9, 2005
by Mark Hume| GLOBE & MAIL
Chief sees forest beyond ravaged trees
» download PDF