A joint venture of NK'Mip Forestry and Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group
Osoyoos Indian Band and Infinity-Pacific Unite to Launch Siya Forestry LP
Oliver, B.C. – The partners behind Siya Forestry LP are proud to announce its official launch, marking a significant step to help fill a critical gap in the forestry sector. The company was established in February 2024 as a joint venture partnership between Nk’Mip Forestry LLP (Nk’Mip) of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group Ltd. (Infinity-Pacific). The collaboration brings together dedicated resources and forestry experts from both companies to advance sustainable practices and support community development across the Okanagan, Kootenay, and Boundary regions through a First Nations lens.
Dan Macmaster, Head of Forestry with Nk’Mip, said, “The Osoyoos Indian Band has extensive experience in managing the land. The knowledge and skills of Band members have contributed to exceptional stewardship with a sustainable focus on all management activities. However, the traditional territory of the OIB is extensive, and the ecological values need to be prioritized as the landscape and infrastructure continually change. This partnership combines the experience and capacity of Infinity-Pacific and the knowledge and values of the Osoyoos Indian Band to sustainably manage our lands for many generations to come.”
Vern Louie, OIB’s Operations Manager, echoed Macmaster’s sentiments and said, “This is a great partnership for the Osoyoos Indian Band. Infinity Pacific has been working with our forestry licences for over 10 years and creating the joint venture has solidified the strong relationship that has taken years to build. This will create more job opportunities for our Band members and give the Osoyoos Indian Band a much stronger voice in the management of our traditional territory.”
Accompanying the launch is the new brand, which reflects the regional heritage and vision of the new partnership. The logo, depicting an idyllic forest scene with an elk, water, and the sun, captures the essence of the Osoyoos region, characterized by its desert landscapes, sunshine, recreation, and beautiful lake scenery.
| Siya Forestry crew undertaking a variety of operations, from tree planting to wildfire risk reduction to hauling logs for utilization. Pics credit: Dan Macmaster |
Mike Petrie, President of Infinity-Pacific, also discussed what this collaboration means to Infinity-Pacific. “The partnership between Nk’Mip and Infinity-Pacific marks a significant milestone for both companies. For Infinity-Pacific, this collaboration enables our forest professionals and field teams to seamlessly integrate OIB’s cultural and land management objectives into our day-to-day forest management decisions, further enhancing our service offerings to clients.”
Siya Forestry has also unveiled its new website, which will serve as a central hub for information on its services and projects. The website is live and will be continuously updated with the latest projects and news.
“The new website will feature a user-friendly design, making it easy for stakeholders to navigate and find the information they need quickly. It will provide a platform for communication between Siya Forestry, the community and local stakeholders by including regular updates, newsletters, and a page that keeps stakeholders informed about the latest developments, projects, and industry news,” explained Petrie.
The new company is dedicated to cultivating a thriving local economy through sustainable forestry. This commitment involves creating jobs for Band members and local forest technicians and professionals, addressing community values and priorities, and setting new standards for environmental stewardship in the region. The company provides services such as forest development and planning, fuel mitigation for wildfire risk reduction, silviculture services, timber cruising, small tenure management for woodlots and community forests, GIS mapping, cultural feature identification, educational outreach, and grant applications to secure funding for forestry projects.
“These are only a few of the comprehensive suite of services we offer. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our services to include advanced technological solutions for forest health monitoring and more extensive community engagement programs to ensure that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders and set new standards for environmental stewardship,” added Petrie.
The company already has several established partnerships with Weyerhaeuser, Interfor, BC Timber Sales, BC Wildfire Service, First Nations Emergency Services Society, K&C Silviculture, Mercer/Celgar, Okanagan Invasive Species Society, Gorman Bros Lumber and YRB.
“Siya Forestry develops partnerships with companies and organizations that have similar values and priorities that all our communities want to see across the landscape,” emphasized Macmaster. “Water, wildlife, forests, soils, and the human activities that exist throughout will be better cared for when we work together and have a common vision of how this land will look for our children and generations beyond.”
For more details on Siya Forestry’s services and projects and to keep up with its latest initiatives, visit the website at www.siyaforestry.ca.
