Líl̓wat Nation’s FireSmart Coordinator: Dillon Bikadi

Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures Ltd. (LFV) is a leading forestry management corporation within the Líl̓wat Nation in Mount Currie, British Columbia. As we continue to grow, we are excited to introduce our dedicated team members who help us manage one of the Nation’s most precious resources while upholding our commitment to community safety.

Dillon Bikadi, Líl̓wat Nation’s FireSmart Coordinator, is one of the key members working alongside LFV to help create the conditions needed to better protect the community against wildfires.

Interesting Facts:

• Dillon and his family have a total of nine horses and two ponies.
• Dillon is new to the forestry industry, as he previously worked as a mechanic in the automotive industry for 20 years.
• Dillon is a golden member of the Pemberton Off-Road Rebels and has been racing in the 4×4 rally for many years.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the forest industry?

I was born and raised in the Líl̓wat Nation, and I am the FireSmart Coordinator for the Nation. This is a new role for me, I have only been here for about ten months. Prior to that, I was a mechanic for almost twenty years.

I went to school at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. After working in the automotive industry, I wanted to look toward a position that would help me give back to my community in some way.

Very interesting! Moving from that background into forestry must have been a big adjustment and change. What convinced you to move into this role?

The need, FireSmart and safety is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. Every year Wildfire statistics come out indicating how wildfires are getting worse every year.

I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and work with new people. Knowing I’m helping to make a tangible difference in my community is a great feeling.

That’s great to hear! As the FireSmart Coordinator, what does your day-to-day look like?

Every day is a little bit different for me. FireSmart is all funded through grants through the Union of BC Municipalities or the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC, and that entails a lot of pre-planning that we need to do to make sure we are anticipating and projecting the right kind of work and outcomes in a specific timeframe that the grant money will be allocated for. Then, we fill out the applications with those details and once they approve it, we begin checking off all the items on the list.

When I first started in this role, my focus was mainly on education for the community, getting them familiar with what FireSmart is, making assessments, and inspecting properties and houses to make the area more resilient to wildfires. It’s definitely a mix of some office and field work, and I enjoy that.

What do you enjoy the most about this role?

The ongoing learning and the cooperation aspect as we work together to achieve the same goals. While I’m not directly employed by LFV, I do work alongside their team members often and getting to know and work with them has been truly rewarding. I’ve also been able to meet new people from around the area, including Pemberton, Whistler, and Squamish. We all keep each other updated on where we are and what we are doing to help each other out as much as we can.

Outside of work, do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy?

I’ve always been into vehicles; that’s why I started fixing them. I have been involved in the Pemberton Off-Road Rebels, a family-oriented group that puts on a 4×4 rally every year. I also enjoy being outdoors, whether that is hunting or hiking. And then, between my partner, our daughters, and my partner’s siblings, we have nine horses and two ponies. Most of the time I’m working the tractor, and our daughters get to ride the horses.

Are there any upcoming projects that either you’re involved in or you’re watching from afar that you are excited or proud of?

The project that excited me is the one that LFV is currently working on. This project is the one above the new site by the Xet̓ólacw Village or the X Stream Road subdivision. I believe they have completed about 70 hectares of the treatment so far and they partnered with Lizzie Bay Logging to get a lot of that done. They wanted to try a few different things, including different spacing to control stand density in the forest and meet their objectives. I’m excited to see how this project will protect our communities in the long run.

Thank you, Dillon, for sharing your journey and insights with us. Your passion, drive and dedication to enhancing community safety through FireSmart are truly commendable, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to making a positive impact to the Nation.