Osoyoos Indian Band Forestry Business Partnerships Day Brings Community and Industry Together

Oliver, BC: Last month, the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) Forestry department welcomed community members, students, forestry businesses, contractors, and partner organizations to its annual Forestry Business Partnerships Day on June 24. The event brought people together to learn more about the work taking place across OIB territory and explore how partnerships can support employment, training, youth engagement, and business development for OIB members.

"Forestry is about much more than managing forests," said Dan Macmaster, Forestry Manager with Osoyoos Indian Band Forestry. "It is about good stewardship, building relationships, creating opportunities for OIB members, and making sure the community has a strong voice in how the land is cared for now and for future generations."

Jane Stelkia, Brenda Gould, and Dan Macmaster during the opening ceremony.

Opening Ceremony song by Senpaq'cin Elementary School students

Drone shot of Osoyoos Indian Band office

Jane Stelkia, OIB Elder and Leona Baptiste, OIB Council Member and Brenda Gould, OIB Referrals

Skemxist Solutions Booth

Students from Senpaq'cin Elementary School opened the event with a wonderful song, and all our visitors enjoyed a BBQ lunch sponsored by the Sutherland Group.  Forestry companies and organizations also shared information about their work and discussed future collaboration with the community.

"Our Forestry Business Partnerships Day continues to grow and provides an excellent opportunity for face-to-face conversations between the OIB community, our forestry team, and the many partners we work with," said Peter Flett, Head of Operations at Nk'Mip Forestry. "The relationships we build with organizations working across OIB's traditional territory are important and form the foundation of trust moving forward. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day a success."

OIB Forestry would like to thank all of the business partners who joined the event, the OIB community members who came out to learn and ask questions, the students of Senpaq'cin Elementary School for helping open the day in a good way, and the Sutherland Group Food Truck for supporting the barbecue. limləmt (thank you) to everyone who contributed to making the day a success.

This Annual Forestry Business Partnerships Day reflects OIB's ongoing commitment to collaboration, local economic development, and responsible stewardship across OIB territory.

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, along with our joint ventures Siya Forestry and Skemxist Solutions, are a major contributor to the local economy and is committed to applying Osoyoos Indian Band 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

For more information or an interview with Nk’Mip Forestry, contact:

Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, (250) 574 0221 | aleece@amplifyinc.ca