Guiding Statements
OUR VISION
To further reconciliation and strengthen relationships between the partnering communities of Líl’wat Nation and the Village of Pemberton through connection to the land, good stewardship and economic opportunity.
OUR MISSION
To operate a safe, profitable and sustainable community forest. The Community Forest will be managed for environmental, social and economic values while taking into consideration the desires of its member and neighbouring communities.
Management of the Spel’kúmtn Community Forest recognizes and respects a set of shared community values:
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION and HABITAT ENHANCEMENT
WATERSHED PROTECTION
ECONOMIC VIABILITY
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
CULTURE
OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE and RECREATION
CONNECTION between LAND and PEOPLE
CONNECTION to NATURE
The SCF finds additional guidance for its work as a member in the BC Community Forest Association.
At the provincial level, the goals of the Community Forest program are to support local priorities, community building and initiatives.
Origins
In 1998, a new form of forest tenure, the Community Forest, was designed in BC to allow more communities and First Nations to participate in the management of forests in their local areas. Considering the changes that were taking place at the time in the forest industry, the Village of Pemberton began to investigate the possibility of establishing a Community Forest. Over subsequent years, meetings, reviews and a comprehensive Feasibility Study were undertaken to gather community input and explore options for moving forward.
Based on positive findings, Líĺwat Nation and the Village of Pemberton resolved to work together on a partnership agreement for the purposes of co-managing a community forest. The result of this collaboration was the incorporation of the Speĺkúmtn Community Forest in 2018, a limited partnership between the two communities. The Community Forest Agreement, the tenure agreement between the Province, Líĺwat Nation and Village of Pemberton, was signed in September 2020 for a period of 25 years with possibility of extension.