B.C. forestry companies have agreed to follow Indigenous protocols pertaining to large cultural cedars set by a B.C. Indigenous Council.

Several firms, including Western Forest Products Inc. and Interfor, as well as BC Timber Sales have indicated their intention to abide by traditional laws outlined in 91裸聊视频淟arge Cultural Cedar (LCC)Operation Protocol,91裸聊视频� according to a statement from the Nanwakolas Council.

The council consists of five First Nations members 91裸聊视频揗amalilikulla, Tlowitsis, Da91裸聊视频檔axda91裸聊视频檟w Awaetlala, Wei Wai Kum, and K91裸聊视频檕虂moks 91裸聊视频� with traditional territories on northern Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland.

The LCC Protocol outlines policies and procedures for those seeking to carry out forestry activities and secure permits to harvest timber in these Nations91裸聊视频� territories. It aims to protect culturally important large cedars 91裸聊视频� which are at risk from 91裸聊视频渓arge scale91裸聊视频� logging 91裸聊视频� under traditional laws and jurisdiction.

Large, high quality red and yellow cedars 91裸聊视频� also known as 91裸聊视频榯ree of life91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� are used extensively by First Nations for cultural practices such as carving dugout canoes, totem poles and traditional buildings.

When it became difficult to find cedar trees suitable enough for our cultural needs, we decided to make some rules ourselves for the remaining trees in our territories, said Dallas Smith, president of the Nanwakolas Council.

91裸聊视频淭his way we make sure we have access to these type of trees going into the future for our current and future generations,91裸聊视频� he said.

Explaining the workings of the protocol further Smith said that based on the dimensions outlined, if any tree is determined as an LCC by the First Nation it is off-limits for logging.

91裸聊视频淭he protocol just put up a set of rules that needs to be followed when trees of certain dimensions are found and how we91裸聊视频檙e going to manage them going forward,91裸聊视频� he said.

In a statement, Nanwakolas Council called this agreement by members of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 forestry industry a 91裸聊视频渢railblazing move towards improved relationships between Indigenous peoples and the industry.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淣anwakolas Council has worked with the forestry industry for many years to help them better understand how the First Nations make resource management decisions, and in turn to understand the economic and other impacts on forestry activities of complying with Nanwakolas First Nations91裸聊视频� laws,91裸聊视频� they said.

Smith, also said that the commitment by these forestry companies represents 91裸聊视频渇undamental change for the better for everyone.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he Protocol supports culturally important activities and increased environmental integrity, but not at the cost of economic certainty. Compliance with it will make things better not only for our communities, but regionally and for the province as a whole,91裸聊视频� said Smith.

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