#150-Reconciliation in Forestry with Percy Guichon

YourForest

If you are looking for inspiration, look no further than the story Percy Guichon was willing to share with us. Through hardship and discrimination, pain and suffering, a few First Nations were able to create thriving communities out of hard work and ingenuity. Percy came on the show to share his personal story, but also that of his Nation and the success they have had building forestry enterprises that look out for land and give back to community. Reconciliation takes lots of forms, Percy’s story is about collaboration and thinking outside the box.

Resources

Percy Guichon

The residential school Percy attended as a child was purchased by Williams Lake First Nations to help honour their ancestors:

Article: St. Joseph's Mission residential school site should be 'a place of healing'

Central Chilcotlin Rehabilitation Ltd.

Sponsors

West Fraser

GreenLink Forestry Inc.

Quotes

20.46 - 20.54: “I think… the start of… reconciliation is just by acknowledging those… past harms and what it did to our people.”
Takeaways

Traditional territory (4.44)

Percy is a member and Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation in the interior of British Columbia. He is grateful to be one of the few of his generation to speak his native language.

Knowledge and experience (8.40)

The conditions of First Nations members during his childhood were some of the reasons that inspired Percy to run for Chief many years later, where he served for 6 years.

Indigenous consultation (12.21)

Percy’s earliest memories are of living on the land with the other animals that occupy it, including its waters. That laid the seed of his interest in forestry through high school.

Truth and reconciliation (19.49)

Reconciliation efforts are taking place across Canada to acknowledge the harms of residential schools, cultural genocide and economic marginalization. Separating children from families caused intergenerational trauma and alcoholism.

Communities building their destiny (22.41)

Percy believes it is important for institutions and systems to work with Indigenous people to remove barriers to meaningful long-term employment and empower communities.

Reconciliation and forestry (26.17)

First Nations communities have formed forestry companies and created development corporations. They are also being consulted by the Ministry of Forestry.

The trauma of residential schools (30.55)

Percy went to residential school at age 7 with his siblings and cousins. The impacts on his community, his culture, his friends, his family, and his sense of self were devastating.

Leave a lasting legacy (47.29)

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) focuses on cleaning up the mountain pine beetle-infested areas. First Nations communities need to be involved in the forest industry for sustainability.

From companies to communities (55.28)

Percy rejoices in the transfer of forest licenses from companies to communities. This helps distribute the responsibilities between conservation officers and community members.

Honouring agreements (1.04.45)

Percy shares the stories of how different First Nations have built agreements with the government, similar to how they created treaties.

Strengthening the culture (1.10.53)

Percy speaks about the supreme court decision demarcated title land area, how the BC government exonerated chiefs and the tripartite framework agreement.

Healthy and happy communities (1.19.25)

Percy believes that communities must have forest licenses so they can benefit from them. Elders still carry out traditional practices like berry picking and collecting medicinal plants.

Building relationships (1.27.30)

Percy looks forward to building relationships with other First Nations neighbours, sharing best practices and exchanging expertise and resources to create future-forward sustainable projects.

Allyship in action (1.34.14)

It is important to be respectful of the communities, address land rights, create revenue-sharing agreements and help the communities grow.