Story by Jordon Gabriel, Community Relations & Forestry Manager with Lil̓wat Forestry Ventures
As a residential school Survivor, the word ‘Reconciliation’ holds a much deeper meaning for me than many might realize. From Indigenous Peoples being taken away to residential schools to now having a voice in decisions about their lands, our country and society have come a long way. But Reconciliation is not a one-time thing, it’s an ongoing, slow, and often painful journey.
To this day, Canada continues to feel the consequences of its historical injustices toward Indigenous Peoples. We see the decisions of the past reflected even in forestry. The increase in forest fires and the loss of culturally significant plants is directly connected to the banning of our cultural practices for forest management, including cultural burning.
Natural disasters know no boundaries, and we know that by reintroducing fire to the land through controlled cultural burns, we can reduce the intensity and risk of catastrophic wildfires and further allow for the growth of important medicinal and food plants in our territory. Practicing our culture allows us to manage the forest in a way that prioritizes people, wildlife, and cultural values.
Today, professionals in the forestry industry are beginning to realize the benefits of introducing fire into the landscape but there is still a long road ahead before we see meaningful, large-scale changes where Indigenous people can take the lead to help.
Other important traditions many people may not know about include cedar stripping and cedar root basket weaving, a practice that is very important to many Indigenous communities. Cedar provides materials to create essential items like baskets, hats, and regalia, which are central to our identity and culture. My own grandmother was a master weaver of cedar root baskets, some which are on display at our cultural centre in Mount Currie.
With all of this in mind, the goal is not for Indigenous people to be considered once a year when we remember the terrible impacts of residential schools – it is about Indigenous Peoples having an active and leading role in sectors like forest management to help communities become more self-sustaining.
If anything happened in the world tomorrow, as Indigenous people we know we could return to the land and live from it because we are rebuilding that connection again. When I think of fishing this year, everyone was out on the river, including me, to get fish to supply us for the winter. And with berries starting to come back to our territory, even in old harvesting areas where we haven’t seen them for years, I see firsthand how fire helps restore balance. After nine years, growth is finally returning, especially in areas touched by fire. It created better ground conditions, and various plants are starting to grow again. This kind of natural regeneration means that people can once again rely on the land for food and medicine. In a world where the cost of living keeps rising, to be able to bring these self-sustaining practices back to the community is vital.
What many might not realize is that cultural practices like gathering berries are more than just tradition. They also promote health, community, and intergenerational learning. When berries return to the forest, it strengthens the long-standing practice of hunting for food, encourages exercise, and helps preserve knowledge for future generations.
At Lil̓wat Forestry Ventures, I’m proud that we have been able to integrate Indigenous knowledge into our forestry operations to manage our lands in a more holistic way. We’ve been fortunate to have historical documents from our Elders dating back to 1969. Their wisdom, recorded and preserved, has guided our efforts to revive traditional forest management practices.
We are also working hard to educate our youth and pass knowledge forward. We have held several open houses, walking tours out on the land, and visited community members’ homes to share information. This year, we were invited to speak with all the teachers at Xet̓ólacw, our community school. Teachers have shown interest in bringing students out to connect and learn with us. It’s not just our own community that is curious and willing to learn, other Nations are interested too.
These are powerful opportunities for younger generations to reconnect with their culture and ensure that our knowledge is not lost. And they’re taking it seriously. Right now, we have 10 to 15 youth under the age of 25 working with us. Even my own granddaughter has gone into school in the field of forestry. If we as Indigenous people are going to lead forest management for our Nation, we need young people to get the right training, which includes both Western science and traditional knowledge. That way, they will truly understand the land, not just from textbooks, but from the stories, values, and practices that have sustained us for generations.
Indigenous knowledge can help make forestry decisions more efficient and effective. We are already seeing success with the reintroduction of cultural burning across many territories in British Columbia. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I want to acknowledge the progress to date and remind people that systemic change doesn’t happen overnight. We must keep pushing and our voices must remain strong and present in every decision that affects our lands and our people. The importance of integrating cultural practices in managing the forests and producing resources for communities is a reminder that true Reconciliation means returning the leadership of stewardship into the hands of Indigenous Peoples and speaks to a more connected way of living, where the health of the land, the people, and cultures are all cared for, together.
