FORT PROVIDENCE (October 24, 2014) – Minister of Environment and Natural Resources J. Michael Miltenberger signed a Forest Management Agreement (FMA) for the community of Fort Providence today with Digaa Enterprises Limited President Michael Vandell and Director James Christie. Deh Gah Got’ie First Nation Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge, Fort Providence Métis President Clifford McLeod, Premier Bob McLeod and MLA Michael Nadli signed as witnesses. The FMA will provide business, employment and training opportunities in the forest industry for residents of Fort Providence.

“This agreement is a unique opportunity for the people of Fort Providence to get in on the ground floor in the on-going development of a growing northern biomass industry,” said Minister Miltenberger.  “It provides Digaa Enterprises with tenure for enough timber volume and access to create a viable forest industry for the community of Fort Providence”

Digaa Enterprises is an Aboriginal development corporation established by the Deh Gah Got’ie First Nation and the Fort Providence Métis Council. As the FMA holder, Digaa Enterprises will have non-exclusive access rights to harvest timber from Crown lands in a prescribed area for sustainable business development and growth.

Under the agreement, Digaa Enterprises will be responsible for preparing timber harvest plans, making wood available for appropriate uses, building local capacity in the forest business; and, complying with forest legislation and other applicable laws.

Timber harvest plans are intended to meet community timber harvesting objectives and require community participation to address the needs of multiple stakeholders such as wildlife managers and traditional land users. A 25-year timber harvest plan for Fort Providence is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

ENR is providing guidance on timber harvest planning and business planning to Digaa Enterprises.

The term of the Digaa Enterprises FMA is for 25 years.

Media inquiries:

Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca