Lake Babine Nation Forestry has entered a long-term agreement with West Fraser to supply logs to the Pacific Inland Resources Sawmill in Smithers, B.C. The deal also establishes a partnership for sustainable forest management under Lake Babine Nation’s First Nations Woodland License.
This marks a significant step in advancing Lake Babine Nation’s economic and governance goals outlined in its 2020 Foundation Agreement with the Province of British Columbia. The new arrangement supports job creation, business development, and greater oversight of natural resources within the Nation’s traditional territory.
The agreement builds on a Joint Development Agreement signed in 2024, which combined local tenure volumes into a single First Nations Woodland License. With this latest milestone, the Provincial Government is now expected to issue the new license to Lake Babine Nation Forestry in 2025.
West Fraser sees the agreement as a way to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities while contributing to long-term stability in B.C.’s forest sector. The deal is subject to regulatory approval by the provincial government.
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