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NATIONAL ABORIGINAL FORESTRY ASSOCIATION |
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The issue of forest product and sustainable forest management system certification is only beginning to have an impact on the forest sector in Canada. In spite of past efforts to exclude Aboriginal communities from the forest sectors, Aboriginal peoples have maintained a strong link with forest land and a way of life, both a traditional way of life as hunters, fishers and gatherers and as workers in the contemporary forest economy. In recent years, First Nations have begun to manage their own Reserve lands and Aboriginal forest companies and organizations have become more involved in forest management and operations. It seems that certification is inevitable and that if Aboriginal communities want to ensure they have a significant voice in forest management, they must learn about certification systems and ensure that their interests are protected in setting and implementing standards developed in these systems.
The disadvantage of these certification systems may be the complexity of and increased costs for forest management. Aboriginal communities will have to develop organizations and capacity to implement these systems. These barriers have the potential to further exclude Aboriginal communities from significant participation in forest management and operations. On the other hand, certification may provide needed encouragement and guidance to improve forest management on Reserve lands.
Off Reserve, these certification systems have the potential to strengthen the recognition and protection of Aboriginal and treaty rights and ensure Aboriginal participation and the inclusion of Aboriginal values in forest management. If, at the same time, governments lose their ability to regulate and enforce forest management standards, First Nations who have not yet established rules for self government will have to rely on the forest industry to interpret and define their rights in the absence of both federal and provincial government regulatory authority. Because certification is voluntary on the part of industry, Aboriginal communities must be better prepared to defend their interests and use certification as a tool in promoting Aboriginal participation and issues in forest management.
In spite of formidable challenges and potential obstacles, Aboriginal communities must get involved in forest management, including certification systems, not necessarily to gain a market advantage, but to ensure sustainable forest management is achieved both on and off Reserve.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION PAPER. NAFA WELCOMES COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ON THE ISSUES RAISED. PLEASE CALL OR WRITE US WITH YOUR RESPONSE.
1 The National Aboriginal Forestry Association uses the term "Aboriginal" as defined in the Canadian Constitution which states that "In this Act, aboriginal peoples of Canada' includes the Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada." The term "First Nation" is used to describe those communities governed under the Indian Act whose territories are defined as Reserves or "Indian land" by the federal government.
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