Cultural Shrub Planting Supports Community Access and Land Rehabilitation in the Cariboo Chilcotin
Williams Lake, B.C. – Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) completed a cultural shrub planting project in Tŝideldel, Tl’etinqox, and Yuneŝit’in with support from Natural Resources Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program. The project was developed to improve access to culturally important shrubs within community spaces while supporting the ongoing rehabilitation of surrounding landscapes affected by repeated large-scale wildfires in the Cariboo Chilcotin.
A total of 2,020 shrubs were planted across the three communities, including 1,620 Soopolallie shrubs, known in Tŝilhqot’in as Nuŵish, 160 Saskatoon shrubs, known as Dig, and 240 Oregon grape plants.
“The land has been deeply affected by wildfire, and that impact reaches beyond the trees,” said Percy Guichon, CEO of CCR and elected Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation. “Cultural shrubs are connected to food, medicine, language, ceremony, and community well-being. Bringing these plants into community spaces is one way we can support both the land and the people connected to it.”
In the Tŝideldel community, there was strong community participation in the planting process, including Ann Nielsen and Charlie Gash of Consus Management Ltd. joined by community members Nolan Guichon, Kurtis Gilpin, Kelly Case, Alexis Bornyk, and Rocky Guichon.
Native shrubs prepared for planting as part of the restoration work.
In the Tl’etinqox community, more than 40 students from the community school, from kindergarten to Grade 12, took part, along with teachers, community leaders, elected Councillors, and Consus staff. Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Dale Hance welcomed the group, Nits’ilʔin-Yaz (Councillor) Cecil Grider opened the planting with a prayer, and Nits’ilʔin-Yaz (Councillor) Harvey Dick and Garry Stump Nits’ilʔin-Yaz (Councillor) also helped with the work, bringing their experience from previous tree planting.
Planting in the Yuneŝit’in community was completed by Ann Nielsen, Jordyn Maas, and Ali Waterhouse of Consus Management Ltd. within the required planting window, as community members were unable to participate at the time due to the passing of a prominent community member.
Roserim Nursery began growing the shrubs in fall 2024, reflecting the advance planning required for this type of project. Growing cultural shrubs in a nursery environment can be challenging, requiring careful consideration of germination,, timing, and local growing conditions before the shrubs are ready for planting.
“This project was about giving back to the communities in a practical way,” said Ann Nielsen, Project Manager at Consus Management Ltd. “These shrubs have cultural value, but they also support land rehabilitation, learning, and improved access for future use. It was especially meaningful to see students, community members, and local leaders take part in the planting.”
Soopolallie and Saskatoon were selected because they grow naturally in areas affected by wildfire and have important cultural uses. Oregon grape was planted in smaller numbers to assess how well it grows in community spaces as climate and local growing conditions continue to change.
For CCR, this project reflects the connection between healthier forests and healthier communities. It also shows how rehabilitation work can include cultural values, food systems, community access, and hands-on learning.
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For media inquiries or interviews:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, aleece@amplifyinc.ca, 250.574.0221
About Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation is a joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government. The joint venture was originally formed to address the 100,000 hectares of dead pine left in the Chilcotin region and to rehabilitate those stands into productive forests. The fires in the summer of 2017 amplified the need to address heavily burned forest stands with minimal economic value. CCR’s mission is to coordinate and implement large-scale forestry programs and initiatives within the traditional territories of the Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government, generating economic, social, and environmental benefits.
For more information: www.centralcr.ca
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