About the First Nations Forestry Program

The forest plays an integral role in the social and economic, spiritual and cultural lives of First Nations across Canada. It offers a foundation upon which First Nations peoples and communities can develop an economic base, while maintaining their traditional connection with the land.
Since 1996, the First Nations Forestry Program (FNFP) has funded 1,310 projects. These partnerships among First Nations, the Government of Canada and industry have created opportunities for over 4,800 First Nations people to improve their skills and apply sustainable forest management practices. This program builds upon the Government of Canada's commitments to ensuring a clean, healthy environment and creating and sharing opportunity with First Nations to build a better future and stronger community.

Purpose

The purpose of the First Nations Forestry Program is to improve economic conditions in status First Nations communities with full consideration of the principles of sustainable forest management.

Vision

A national vision is presently (Winter/Spring 2009) being developed by First Nations representatives from across Canada who are members of the FNFP.  Once completed this vision will help to inform the future strategies and activities of FNFP Yukon and will allow Yukon to complete its own vision.

Objectives

The FNFP purpose includes four objectives that federal funding is directed to.
They are as follows:
1. To enhance First Nations capacity to manage the forests sustainably;
2. To enhance First Nations capacity to operate and participate in forest-based development opportunities and benefits;
3. To advance knowledge in First Nations sustainable forest management and forest-based development; and,
4. To enhance First Nations institutional capacity at the provincial/territorial level to support their participation in the forest-based economy.

A New Direction

Representatives of First Nations involved in the First Nation Forestry Program (FNFP) are in the process of developing a new vision and goals to set the future direction of the national FNFP.  Funding for the 2009/2010 fiscal year has been allocated, but beyond this, the future of the program has yet to be determined. 
This plan has been updated to the best of the Yukon FNFP Committee’s abilities given the uncertainty for the future.

The Yukon Context

Yukon First Nations
There are fourteen Yukon First Nation (YFN) communities within the Yukon Territory; all are participants to the FNFP. Throughout the past seven years, the Yukon First Nations (YFN), the Yukon Territorial Government, Forest Resources, and the Federal Government (Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Natural Resources Canada) have worked collectively in the development of the FNFP (Yukon).
There are eleven Yukon First Nations who have settled their land claim agreements, and the remaining three have not yet settled. “With the settlement of Yukon First Nations land claims and the legislation of Final Agreements, Yukon First Nations have clearly established jurisdiction for forestry on their settlement lands. In addition, through these agreements, Yukon First Nations have rights to participate in forest management on all Yukon lands and rights to be consulted on all matters related to the management of the Yukon’s forest lands.” (Statement of Yukon First Nations Values and Principles on the Management of Yukon Forest Lands – FNFP draft 1998)

2009-2010 WORKPLAN

Currently, FNFP Yukon is working on completing their 2009-2014 Five Year Strategic Plan, developing their Forest Management Planning Training for Winter 2009, up-dating their FNFP website and will also be sending a few of the management committee members to a workshop or conference.

For further information, you can contact their coordinator at:
Ann Swan - Assistant/Natural Resources & Environment
First Nation Forestry (Yukon) Program Coordinator
CYFN Boards & Committees Coordinator
Phone: (867) 393-9236
Email: annmarie.swan@cyfn.net

For further Program information please follow the link to this address: FNFP Web site