Manitoba Provincial Government Signs Two More Forestry Revenue Sharing Agreements With Northern First Nations

The Manitoba provincial government said on Tuesday (9-20-22) that it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) on forestry revenue-sharing with two more Northern Manitoba First Nations. One of the agreements is with the Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) and the other is with Chemawawin Cree Nation (CCN).

The two-year MOU pilot project, which is retroactive to January 1, 2022, commits the province to sharing 45% of timber harvesting dues from areas in proximity to the NHCN and CCN with the First Nations.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by the province and NHCN on August 2, 2022, with the provincial government committing to creating a tree-planting program to train and employ youth and community members. A multiphase traditional land use study will be led by NHCN, with priority given to the area and interest of the First Nation. Timber will also be provided for NHCN’s sawmill to support the goal of building approximately 500 homes in the community.

In August, the Manitoba provincial government signed MOUs with Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Mosakahiken Cree Nation.

Speaking about the new MOUs, Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Greg Nesbitt said, “These MOUs represent another purposeful step forward that our government is taking on the path to reconciliation, as we work to correct past wrongs. I am honored to sign these historic agreements, which will allow the CCN and NHCN to now benefit from forestry operations on their traditional territory.”

The province says that it allocated more than $1 million toward grants to support resource-related economic development last year, including $200,000 to improve the viability of the province’s forestry sector by encouraging more Indigenous participation in the economic opportunities it provides.