Osoyoos Indian Band and Gorman Group Formalize Forestry Management Partnership
Oliver, B.C.: The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and the Gorman Group, through Similkameen Forest Products Ltd. (SFP), signed a partnership agreement on July 20, 2026, that gives the OIB a direct role in the planning and management of Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 59.
TFL 59 is located east of Oliver within the OIB’s traditional territory. It is a long-term tree farm licence that provides the holder of the licence the opportunity to manage a defined forest area, and it has been held and managed by SFP. Through its forestry company, Nk’Mip Forestry LLP (Nk’Mip), the agreement means that the OIB will now be involved in the management work from the beginning of the forest planning process.
“This partnership will help create more jobs, specific training opportunities, and longer-term revenue for the Osoyoos Indian Band and our people,” said Clarence Louie, Chief of the OIB. “This agreement gives the OIB a stronger and more involved role in the forest economy within our traditional territory and helps us build the skills and experience needed to take on greater responsibility in the future. Our goal is to make sure more of the economic benefits from forestry in the OIB’s backyard stay in our community.”
Row Top: L>R: Matt Scott, Planning Forester at Gorman Group.; Norm Druck, Gorman Woodlands Manager South Zone; Peter Flett, Head of Operations, Nk’Mip Forestry; Jason Carmichael, Gorman Group., South Area Planning Manager (Princeton/West Kelowna); Julia Chapelle; Planning Forester, Gorman Woodlands South.; Dan Macmaster, Head of Forestry, Nk’Mip Forestry
Row Front: L>R: Ashlee Cribb, Chief Executive Officer, Gorman Group; Chief Clarence Louie, Chief of the OIB; Nick Arkle, Chair of the Board, Gorman Group
In terms of collaborating, a joint Planning and Management Committee will help guide operating plans, stewardship priorities, and the inclusion of cultural values into the work. The committee will also oversee how the agreement is carried out and will bring together the knowledge, experience, priorities, and resources of the OIB and the Gorman Group throughout the planning process.
“This partnership agreement is an important step in the shared management of Tree Farm Licence 59,” said Norm Druck, Woodlands Manager, South Zone for the Gorman Group. “This specific licence is part of the cultural heartland of the Osoyoos Indian Band and supports traditional food, medicines, jobs, and spiritual well-being. The land also provides timber for the Gorman Group’s regional manufacturing facilities. This agreement brings those priorities together and gives the Osoyoos Indian Band a stronger role in how forestry work is planned and carried out.”
“The signing of this agreement between the OIB and Gorman Group is an important step forward in how we approach forest management and wood fibre supply in TFL59. It's also a foundation for improving the economic stability of families in our communities, a value we share,” said Ashlee Cribb, CEO, Gorman Woodlands. “I'm grateful for Chief Clarence Louie's support, and for the work of both the Nk'Mip Forestry LLP and Gorman Woodlands teams in getting us here."
Nk’Mip will lead the planning of proposed harvesting areas in partnership with SFP. The plans will consider culturally important sites, traditional-use areas, wildlife habitat, water quality, forest health, and wildfire resilience for future generations.
“This agreement makes the Osoyoos Indian Band a full partner in the management of the licence,” shared Dan Macmaster, Registered Professional Forester, Forestry Manager for the OIB. “We are excited to work with the Gorman Group from the beginning of the planning process to help make informed decisions about the land. Collaborating like this creates a stronger foundation for the partnership that can grow as the Osoyoos Indian Band builds its capacity and takes on more responsibility.”
The OIB will complete cultural assessments and early field reviews in the proposed harvesting areas of the TFL. Nk’Mip will work with OIB community members to make sure their knowledge, concerns, and priorities are included in the plans.
“This agreement means Osoyoos Indian Band members will be directly involved in the planning process,” said Vern Louie, Head of Operations for the OIB. “The work itself will create opportunities for community members to gain hands-on experience through the cultural assessments, fieldwork, and monitoring work. This will help people build the skills needed to take on more responsibility in the future.”
Nk’Mip will now direct all the planning and forest development work, cultural assessments, the community liaison role, pile burning, and environmental monitoring. The agreement will also create opportunities for the OIB’s recently opened Osoyoos Forest Nursery to grow seedlings for reforestation within TFL 59 and nearby operating areas.
Both organizations will work together to create training, mentorship, and career development opportunities for OIB youth and community members.
“We have a lot to accomplish,” noted Dan Macmaster. “Both the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Gorman Group will continue working with the Province of British Columbia to explore a long-term tenure model that can provide certainty for both partners to carry out this work well into the future.”
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About Nk’Mip Forestry
Nk’Mip Forestry LLP was formed in 2014 when the Osoyoos Indian Band strategically decided to pull together their forest management efforts toward the rising need for sustainable economic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation within the community through forestry. Nk’Mip Forestry is a major contributor to the local economy and is committed to applying Okanagan cultural and environmental values in all operations. Fully OIB-owned, the company ensures that licensed forestry areas are harvested sustainably, using methods that help preserve the forest and all its ecological attributes for future generations. Learn more: www.nkmipforestry.ca Follow Nk’Mip Forestry on social media: LinkedIn
About Gorman Group
Founded in 1951, Gorman Group is a family-owned forest products company with deep roots in British Columbia. The company produces high-quality wood products from sustainably sourced B.C. fibre and operates with a longstanding commitment to responsible forest management, employee safety, community and strong relationships with Indigenous communities. With decades of forestry and manufacturing experience, Gorman Group continues to invest in sustainable practices, local communities and the long-term future of B.C.’s forest sector.
For more information or an interview with Nk’Mip Forestry, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, (250) 574 0221 | aleece@amplifyinc.ca
