White River When the Abitibi Price Mill in White River, Ontario was being built back in 1977, members of the Pic Mobert First Nation now known as Netamisakomik Anishinabek (PMFN) were employed to help clear the land. They did just that, and then they went home; there was no work for them at the mill. The mill was purchased by Domtar in 1984 and closed in 2007. PMFN was still there, still interested in the mill, but still with no ties to it nor the profits from the forests. In 2009, PMFN went out on a limb (pun intended) and invested in the mill with community partners to make sure that it would be there for future generations for both jobs at the mill and profits from the forests. Frank Dottori, the founder and once President and CEO of Tembec Inc. came along, no stranger to opening and revitalizing mills, and White River Forest Products (WRFP) opened on the site in 2013. As part of the opening process, Dottori made commitments to the Pic River First Nation (now referred to as Biigtigong Nishnaabeg) and PMFN for harvesting opportunities, not to mention an equity position for PMFN in the mill, and setting up the logging company Maygwayyawk Forestry Services (MFS) majority owned by PMFN. WRFP also has a working relationship with PMFN through a workforce development program to help train and mentor members of the local First Nations across all areas of the mill’s operations. WRFP now employs over 160 people. “We have always taken a proactive approach to community engagement with First Nations, and we promote productive partnerships and economic opportunities for First Nations people through joint ventures, cooperative agreements and collaborative initiatives within the industry,” Dottori said. “As an essential component of our social and corporate responsibility values we’re committed to supporting community growth and betterment.” Hornepayne Just up the road in Hornepayne, stood the idled Olav Haavaldsrud Timber Company, which suspended operations in 2015, alongside the Becker Cogen. WRC Timber Inc. acquired these two facilities in 2016. After a year of talks and working agreements, in November 2017, The Missanabie Cree, the Chapleau Cree, and the Netamisakomik Anishinabek (Pic Mobert) First Nations officially became significant owners in these businesses. Having partnered through the newly formed Northeast Superior First Nation Investment LP , the three First Nations now hold a $4 million equity share in Hornepayne Lumber and Hornepayne Power Inc. One tree at a time Progressive Partnerships in Forestry and Co-gen While the nation talks about reconciliation and treaty rights, one group of companies in Northern Ontario is doing their best to walk the walk majority owned by PMFN. Hornepayne Power Inc. As the sun shines on lumber prices, wrapped lumber at WRFP waits to be delivered to customers across North America