A ‘New Relationship’? Reflections on British Columbia’s 2003 Forest Revitalization Plan from the perspective of the Li̓l̓wat First Nation

Abstract

One of the ways that Indigenous peoples are seeking recognition of their rights to ancestral and traditional territories is through increased participation in the forestry sector. Participating in forestry represents tangible recognition of the Li̓l̓wat First Nation’s rights and allows progress towards strategic management of their territories. This study presents evidence from five years of collaborative qualitative research in the Li̓l̓wat Nation to understand how forestry is creating new opportunities and constraints for the community, and how forestry interacts with Li̓l̓wat Inherent Rights. Through government reforms, the Li̓l̓wat Nation is replacing and working together with non-Indigenous companies and the provincial government to improve protection for cultural sites and ways of being. However, the legacy of the colonial forestry regime continues to impact relationships in forestry today, and changes to forest policy have brought both new opportunities and constraints for the Li̓l̓wat Nation. This article reviews Li̓l̓wat First Nation’s evolving relationship with the forestry sector in their traditional territories in British Columbia (BC), Canada, and provides a nuanced look at one Indigenous Nation’s experience with becoming increasingly linked to global forest products markets while maintaining community objectives around self-determination.