Respect for environment drives forest company

Page 29

First Nations leaders, environmentalists, Iisaak Forest Resources staff and several others waited on the Tofino government dock Aug. 22 for the boats that would take them to the site where Iisaak Forest Resources (IFR) planned to fall its first tree.

The groups of people, once bitter opponents, were mingling, chatting, joking and smiling broadly, waiting in excited anticipation.

MLA Gerard Janssen was heard singing to Paul George of Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC), "Paul George took his axe and gave the tree 40 whacks!"

It was an atmosphere of laughter and excitement as the boat made its way through the fog to Cypress Camp.

Iisaak (pronounced Ee-sock) is a Nuu-chah-nulth word meaning respect. The company is 51 per cent owned by five Vancouver Island Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations (Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, and Toquaht), and 49 per cent by forestry giant Weyerhaeuser.

The occasion marked the beginning of a new era of logging in Clayoquot Sound. IFR will practise small-scale logging in an environmentally-sensitive manner. Rather than clearcut a block, IFR will utilize a variety of harvesting techniques that will leave at least half the trees in a logging area standing. In its first cut block, IFR will yard the fallen trees by helicopter, reducing impacts on vegetation and the thin, delicate layer of top soil.

For now, IFR will employ six fallers and two supervisors for three to four weeks. Other work will include yarding, sorting, and hauling, and most of the work will be done by local contractors.

About 40 people jockeyed for picture-taking positions after a brief struggle over a trail in the damp, rugged old-growth forest. A red cedar tree was selected for the ceremony. Because the area is within Ahousaht traditional territories, members of that nation offered prayers and gratitude to the Creator for the life of the tree.

Percy Campbell of Ahousaht performed the prayer chant and Louie Frank Sr. offered a prayer in the Nuu-chah-nulth language. Frank explained that he had just prayed for the life of the tree, thanked the Creator for the gifts of resources and he prayed for the safety of all that would work there.

Faller Joe Corlazzoli was introduced as the IFR employee that would make the first cut. Corlazzoli is a former employee of MacMillan Bloedel, Kennedy Lake Division. He was one of many that were laid off after the 1993 Clayoquot Sound protests. Corlazzoli thanked everyone for giving him the opportunity to work in Clayoquot Sound again.

"I was born and raised here and I worked here. I had to leave the area for awhile to find work. Now we're all in this together and we will look after the forest."

Spectators were guided up a hill to witness the falling of the first tree. Corlazzoli took less than two minutes to get the job done which was met with a round of applause.

Adriane Carr announced that WCWC would purchase part of the first IFR log. Four thin slices of the stump will be sanded, dated and made into a commemorative display. A section of the log would be turned over to an artisan who will transform the wood into cedar boxes that will be sold af WCWC offices.

"It feels great to reach this day, said Eric Schroff, IFR general manger. It is a plateau on a journey of challenges. We have the support of five major environmental groups, local communities and the five local First Nations."

"This is a momentous day," said Paul George of WCWC. "Before European contact these forests were heavily used by First Nations but were not wrecked. Logging here will not be driven by what we can take but what the land can let us take."

"This feels great," said Larry Baird, Ucluelet chief councillor. "This is just the beginning for First Nations businesses. Wherever we see the opportunity to make money and create jobs, we'll be in it."