By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Osoyoos Indian Band’s (OIB) Nk’Mip Forestry and the Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group have officially launched their joint venture company Siya Forestry LP.
The partnership between the OIB and the land and resource management firm saw Siya Forestry established in February 2024 with the new company dedicated to “cultivating a thriving local economy through sustainable forestry”.
The collaboration brings together dedicated resources and forestry experts from both companies to advance sustainable practices and support community development across the Okanagan, Kootenay, and Boundary regions through a First Nations lens, the companies said in a statement.
This commitment involves creating jobs for OIB members and local forest technicians and professionals, addressing community values and priorities, and setting new standards for environmental stewardship in the region.
The company provides services including forest development and planning, fuel mitigation for wildfire risk reduction, silviculture services, timber cruising, small tenure management for woodlots and community forests, GIS mapping, cultural feature identification, educational outreach, and grant applications to secure funding for forestry projects.
Dan Macmaster photo
Noting that the OIB has extensive experience in managing the land, Dan Macmaster, Head of Forestry with Nk’Mip, said, “The knowledge and skills of Band members have contributed to exceptional stewardship with a sustainable focus on all management activities.”
However, he added that the traditional territory of the OIB is extensive, and “the ecological values need to be prioritized as the landscape and infrastructure continually change.
“This partnership combines the experience and capacity of Infinity-Pacific and the knowledge and values of the Osoyoos Indian Band to sustainably manage our lands for many generations to come.”
Vern Louie, OIB’s Operations Manager, echoed Macmaster’s sentiments noting that Infinity Pacific has been working with the OIB’s forestry licences for over 10 years, adding that the joint venture has solidified the strong relationship that has taken years to build.
“This will create more job opportunities for our Band members and give the Osoyoos Indian Band a much stronger voice in the management of our traditional territory,” Louie said.
Mike Petrie, President of Infinity-Pacific said the partnership was a “significant milestone” for both companies.
“For Infinity-Pacific, this collaboration enables our forest professionals and field teams to seamlessly integrate OIB’s cultural and land management objectives into our day-to-day forest management decisions, further enhancing our service offerings to clients.”
Accompanying the launch is the new brand, which reflects the regional heritage and vision of the new partnership and a new website that will be a platform for communication between Siya, the community and local stakeholders.
The logo, depicting an idyllic forest scene with an elk, water, and the sun, captures the essence of the Osoyoos region, characterized by its desert landscapes, sunshine, recreation, and lake scenery.
Dan Macmaster photo
Petrie said the aim is to expand Siya’s services to include advanced technological solutions for forest health monitoring and more extensive community engagement programs. This is important he said, “to ensure that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders and set new standards for environmental stewardship.”
The company already has several established partnerships with Weyerhaeuser, Interfor, BC Timber Sales, BC Wildfire Service, First Nations Emergency Services Society, K&C Silviculture, Mercer/Celgar, Okanagan Invasive Species Society, Gorman Bros Lumber and YRB.
“Siya Forestry develops partnerships with companies and organizations that have similar values and priorities that all our communities want to see across the landscape,” emphasized Macmaster.
“Water, wildlife, forests, soils, and the human activities that exist throughout will be better cared for when we work together and have a common vision of how this land will look for our children and generations beyond.”
Dan Macmaster photo
