WALKING THE LAND TOGETHER:Nation-to-Nation Collaboration and
- BC Forest Professionals Magazine
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Cover Feature> By Aleece Laird with Percy Guichon; Dan Macmaster, RPF; Peter Flett, RPF; and Daniel Persson, RPF
Teams of forest professionals from Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation and Nk’Mip Forestry hosted one another on field tours in their respective territories this past fall to build relationships, share experiences, and learn together on the land. Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) is a joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government. Nk’Mip Forestry operates as a division of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB).
As the 2026 field season approaches, the connections formed during those visits remain top of mind. Through the tours, CCR and OIB shared how they are advancing wildfire resilience, post-wildfire recovery, and sustainable forestry practices aimed at creating healthier, more resilient forests.
"When we learn from each other, we build on our collective knowledge and discover innovative ways to work together," says Percy Guichon, CCR CEO.
By walking each other’s territories, the groups also explored ways to strengthen First Nations leadership within the BC forestry sector.
Insights from the Tŝilhqot'in Territory
The first tour took place in the Cariboo Chilcotin region, within Tŝilhqot'in territory. CCR welcomed the Nk’Mip team to view a largescale forest rehabilitation operation in an area called the Palmer Lake area. They looked at the challenges there following a devastating wildfire in 2017. The CCR team showed how it has been able to utilize more than 100,000 cubic metres of wood fibre from fire-killed trees for green energy and pulp, reducing future wildfire risk in the area and to communities.
Peter Flett, RPF, operations manager with Nk’Mip, was impressed by CCR’s forward-thinking stewardship on a large scale.
“CCR's focus on maximum utilization of sub-merchantable firekilled stands is an excellent example of responsible forest management that our industry should be implementing on a larger scale," says Flett. “Their efforts to increase stand resiliency prioritized a multi-generational vision over short-term economic gains, which is something we also aspire to do at Nk’Mip."
The teams also visited a road rehabilitation project, a wildfire risk reduction project, and Nen gwetlad, or ‘the land that slides’ — an area overlooking the 2024 Chilcotin landslide. The slide site was a stark reminder of post-wildfire landscape instability, reinforcing why proactive management and diverse replanting are top priorities for CCR and its three partner nations.
“We believe that the foundation of success in forestry is finding a way to work in a synergistic manner with others, all while navigating complex regulations,” Flett says. “We also believe that this is done more effectively when we learn together.
Innovation in Southern Okanagan
Two weeks later, the CCR team travelled south to start its tour at the OIB office in Oliver. The focus of the tour started with the seed-to-seedling lifecycle at the K&C Silviculture nursery, a partner in OIB’s new Osoyoos Forest Nursery project, opening this summer.
The tour showcased the science and purpose behind growing a diverse range of tree species, including western larch and ponderosa pine, from seeds collected on OIB’s traditional territory
Daniel Persson, RPF, forestry superintendent for CCR, noted immediate value in the cross-Nation learning opportunity.
“Collaborating with Nk’Mip allowed us to focus on what delivers real results rather than spending resources on unproven approaches,” Persson says. “Nk’Mip’s experience of developing a nursery is something we are very interested in and the insight gained by being in-person and having detailed conversations, we believe, will save significant time, money, and effort for work we would like to explore in the future. Plus, sharing knowledge on the land and directly with the people doing the work provides practical details that reports alone can’t quite offer.”
The teams also visited the Anah Lake fuel break project site, where some understory and ladder fuels have been removed
"So when a fire does come through, it will slow down and creep along the ground. These areas are strategically placed around our communities to help protect them and mitigate future wildfire risk," Guichon says.
The teams then travelled into the backcountry to visit the Grizzly Retention site, where they observed specialized silviculture systems designed to support wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Comparing what has and hasn’t worked, they found similarities in their pursuits of innovative harvesting that respects both Indigenous and ecological values.
“The goal of this is to thin out the forest with highly specialized equipment and create more growing space for the remaining stand,” Flett says
The Power of Collective Leadership
For Dan Macmaster, RPF, forestry manager for Nk’Mip, these collaborative exchanges are vital for building capacity and unity. He believes that when Indigenous forestry companies engage in such exchanges, they learn from each other’s experiences in managing forests sustainably and economically. Macmaster pointed out that sustainability is not just ecological, but also cultural and social.
Much of our province's forest land lies within unceded territories, making relationships foundational to the ability to proactively find solutions to do the work. Relationship-building allows foresters to understand these values and adapt their practices accordingly, and although sometimes it may take more time, effort, and communication, it’s the right thing to do. It’s a model to ensure that forest management aligns with a long-term vision rather than solely short-term objectives.”
Guichon echoed Macmaster’s sentiment, noting that nations are working to build greater resilience amid climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and shifting regulatory conditions.
“Like Dan, Peter, and other leaders from Nk’Mip, we believe that establishing relationships today allows nations to be more proactive and thoughtful rather than reactive. Meaningful relationship-building takes time, in-person connection, and a willingness to learn. But it leads to better outcomes for everyone."
A Roadmap for the Future
For Guichon, the most enduring takeaway from the tours was the importance of leaving the boardroom and getting onto the land together.
“For me, our forestry team, and Otis Guichon, Chief of Tŝideldel First Nation and Tribal Chief of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government who made the trip, seeing forestry practices first-hand being conducted by another nation and having good conversations builds a level of understanding not as easily achieved through online meetings or emails. Stronger, healthier, and more resilient forests depend on strong relationships, and those relationships start with listening, learning, and showing up together."
The collaborative model demonstrated by CCR and Nk’Mip shows how shared learning and nation-to-nation networking can build a more resilient landscape.
For the leaders involved, the exchange left them with a renewed sense of purpose.
Flett felt emboldened.
“Try incorporating new or novel elements into planning and operations,” he advises, “and have the courage to step out of your comfort zone to make a difference.”
Read the full feature here:
We at Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. would like to thank Forest Professionals BC for featuring this story and highlighting the value of Indigenous-led collaboration and shared learning across the forestry sector. We appreciate the opportunity to share this work and the perspectives from the land.
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