an overview of domtar`s first nations engagement activities: dryden

AN OVERVIEW OF DOMTAR’S FIRST NATIONS
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: DRYDEN FORESTLANDS
The Wabigoon and Trout Lake Forests
are managed by Domtar on behalf of
the Province of Ontario under the
Crown Forest Sustainability Act. Within
“
this context, we work with First Nation communities to
build mutually beneficial relationships, recognizing that
each community is unique in its geography, traditions
and interests.
Several points in our Forest Policy highlight that we are committed to:
•
Left to right: John Williams, Domtar Chief Executive Officer, Chief Clifford
Bull, Lac Seul First Nation, Rob Booth, Domtar Forestlands Manager, at
Lac Seul First Nation.
Listening to Domtar’s communities… by maintaining an
open dialogue with the public and encouraging their input;
•
Working with aboriginals… by making it a priority to
develop and maintain working relationships in forest
management and wood-fiber processing where we share
common public lands with aboriginal communities;
•
Sharing our knowledge with others… by communicating
with our shareholders, customers, employees and other
interested parties to ensure that they understand our
commitment to our forest policy. (Our full forest policy is
publicly displayed on domtar.com)
We believe that developing and maintaining effective working
relationships with First Nation communities in the region is the right
thing to do. It is a requirement of third-party certification systems
(e.g. Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), Sustainable Forestry
Initiative® (SFI®)), however we believe it cannot be genuinely
pursued strictly for certification purposes. We believe this work
holds a deeper value for our company and we therefore continue
our long-standing efforts to build and maintain effective
relationships with First Nation communities, even outside the
requirements of forest certification schemes.
Given the diversity and uniqueness of each community, we strive
to customize our approach with each community through respectful
dialogue in an effort to engage in a meaningful way:
We believe that developing
and maintaining effective
working relationships with
First Nation communities in
the region is the right thing
to do.
”
”
©2014 Domtar Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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•
We work to establish formal agreements with First Nation
communities to guide our relationships, expectations and
discussions.
•
We work to build mutually beneficial business relationships
with First Nation communities and businesses (e.g.
harvesting, road-building, silviculture and tree seedling
opportunities).
•
We work closely with Lac Seul First Nation as the entity
responsible for the management of the Lac Seul Forest
under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. Fiber supply
from this forest represents approximately 25% of the
supply to the Dryden pulp mill.
www.domtar.com
2014 First Nations
Natural Resource Youth
Employment Program
graduates recognize
15 years of support
from Domtar by
presenting the company
with a traditional drum
made by participants.
•
•
Through Ontario’s rigourous Forest Management Planning
Process, First Nations are invited by the Minister of Natural
Resources to participate on the Forest Management Planning
Team. This provides us with a formal opportunity to hear and
understand First Nation values and to put in place appropriate
mechanisms to ensure those values are respected.
•
First Nation communities are represented on Domtar’s Public
Advisory Group. This group discusses a range of topics and
interests related to the Crown Forests which Domtar manages
on behalf of the Province of Ontario. It is comprised of members
representing First Nation communities, municipalities, chambers
of commerce, hunters, anglers and other conservation interests.
The purpose of the Public Advisory Group is to provide input,
advice and share information with Domtar and fellow members
on various issues related to independent, third-party
certification including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and
the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The Public Advisory
Group is not required by our current forest certification
systems, it is simply an effective way for us to engage with
regional interests in a meaningful way.
We sponsor First Nation communities through our local
community investment programs:
•
We contribute to Pow Wows, community events, tours,
symposiums and educational summer camps.
•
We participate in career fairs and host mill tours to help
aboriginal youth understand career opportunities and
qualification requirements.
•
We are a founding partner of the First Nations Natural
Resource Youth Employment Program working with
Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
and Outland Reforestation. Through this groundbreaking program, approximately 30 aboriginal youth
from across Northwestern Ontario (a region
approximately 100,000 sq miles) compete for a spot to
attend a summer camp for 6 weeks to learn about
careers in the resource sector, become certified in
required skill areas such as safety and small equipment
operation and then participate in paid work experiences.
The participants earn high school credits through their
successful participation.
•
We support and participate in aboriginal outdoor
education programs in partnership with the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources and individual First Nation
communities.
•
We support First Nations youth education by helping to
bring Canada’s largest science outreach program,
“Elephant Thoughts” to First Nations communities.
Educators combine indigenous culture, academics and
exploration in unique and compelling ways to deepen
interests in science and technology.
•
We support youth literacy and learning initiatives.
We partner with First Book Canada to provide new
books to children in regional First
Nation communities.
School children are presented new books by Dave Cobb, Jim Blight, Rob Booth and Terry
Ollerhead of Domtar as Sam Manitowabi (second-from-right) representing Lac Seul First
Nation looks on.
©2014 Domtar Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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