b'MASS TIMBER CONSTRUCTION The interior of Makwa Waakaaigan Indigenous Centre of Cultural Excellence at Algoma University, which highlights the beauty and versatility of mass timberCCIB will release a new report by theWe really need to bring manufacturingrequirements and consequent carbon end of the summer titled Success andback into the hands of Indigenousfootprint reductions. Almost every First Sustainability: Indigenous ParticipationNations, says Eladia Smoke. Now weNation, says Smoke, has had a sawmill in the Forestry Sector to showcasehave the unfortunate habit of sendingsomewhere in their history. And since how much forestry contributes to theour forest products south [to the U.S.]the drying spaces and kilns represent the Canadian economy and identify oppor- for processing and then purchasingcostliest part of the lumber process, it tunities, challenges and barriers tothem back for a higher price. Thewould be great to fund facilities like that, Indigenous participation in the sector.[better] way to do this is to partnerso our First Nations can start processing The first of a series of projects in collab- with First Nations, who have a greatthose products on-site and recapturing passion for wood products, for forests. that economic leakage, as its called. oration with Natural Resources Canada, the report will discuss governmentDECENTRALIZATIONAn example of this type of project is a procurement policies and opportuni- There are advantages to more decen- new $215-million cutting-edge mass ties for Indigenous-owned businessestralized and widespread manufacturingtimber manufacturing plant currently within the sector.facilities, such as reduced transportationbeing developed in Nova Scotia by MTC Mass Timber Company with Bird Construction as general contractor. It will work in collaboration with the local sawmill industry and benefit the Pictou Everyone Has a Role to Play Landing First Nation community.DIVERSITY BirdConstructioniscommittedto working with the community, says Kevin EMPOWERED Reeves, the companys business develop-ment manager and relationship manager for Indigenous engagement. We think E.S. Fox Limited of it as a long-term investment, Reeves says. We invest in support programs and training programs; we spend a lot of time listening to and talking with the communities we work with.Ultimately, the way forward for mass timber and forestry in general is to empower Indigenous communities to manage the forests. As Eladia Smoke points out, Canadians have realized that weve been struggling along without the BRIDGING THE GAP TO PROMOTE, STRENGTHEN, ANDknowledge systems that are our birth-ENHANCE A PROSPEROUS INDIGENOUS ECONOMYright and that these knowledge systems are powerful and we need them now. EDUCATION - RELATIONSHIPS - COLLABORATION - PROSPERITY They are highly relevant to the existen-tial threat to our natural systems. The more we incorporate these principles www.esfox.com | 905-354-3700 | hr@esfox.com into contemporary practice, the more we will thrive.36A CCIB PUBLICATIONSummer 2024'