Osoyoos Indian Band Leads Wildfire Risk Reduction Project at Mount Baldy Ski Hill

Community-driven initiative supports landscape resilience, cultural protection, and
wildfire preparedness

Oliver, B.C.: The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), in collaboration with Siya Forestry and supported by the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, has launched a wildfire risk reduction (WRR) project on Mount Baldy Ski Hill that aims to strengthen community safety, enhance ecological health, and reimagine forestry through Indigenous values.

The project focuses on developing a fuel management prescription to reduce wildfire risk along a key access corridor and surrounding forested areas. The goal is to create a landscape that is not only more resilient to fire but also safer for residents, more ecologically balanced, and guided by OIB’s commitment to land stewardship.

“We’re not just treating trees, we’re protecting people, values, and ways of life,” said Aaron Froc, Project Lead, Siya Forestry. “This project reflects what’s possible when community, forestry, and Indigenous knowledge come together to lead change.”

The Mount Baldy WRR project is situated along the main road corridor leading to the Mount Baldy community, a place often mistaken for merely a seasonal ski resort, but in fact home to many year-round residents. The treatment area includes three distinct zones: a five-kilometre stretch along Mount Baldy Road, which includes forests on both sides of the corridor and near the Nordic ski area; a mid-elevation section of Crown land situated between private parcels; and lower portions of the ski hill that have been affected by insect and disease damage. These areas were identified for fuel treatment to help reduce wildfire intensity, improve emergency access, and protect both infrastructure and community safety.

“This is part of a larger, landscape-level fuel break strategy that builds on previous wildfire risk reduction work done by OIB in the region,” added Froc.

What sets this project apart is its foundation in Indigenous leadership and local knowledge. The OIB has been intentional in aligning the prescription with community priorities, including cultural heritage, ecosystem restoration, and watershed protection.

“There’s a shift happening in how we manage forests,” said Froc. “The Osoyoos Indian Band is leading that shift by managing for values like water, culture, and safety—not just timber.”

The project includes cultural walk assessments conducted by OIB members to identify areas of significance, ensuring any treatment respects traditional land use and sacred spaces. Waterways and riparian zones are also receiving enhanced protections that goes beyond provincial requirements, guided by OIB’s longstanding emphasis on water as a critical resource.

The collaboration reflects a growing understanding that wildfire resilience must be a shared effort between Indigenous governments, forestry professionals, and residents living in the wildland-urban interface.

Beyond immediate risk reduction, the project carries long-term economic and ecological benefits. Timber removed during thinning operations may be sold or repurposed as firewood, and the OIB is exploring the integration of traditional plant species such as huckleberries and blackberries into future restoration efforts.

These efforts align with a broader “seven-generation” approach to forestry, where today’s decisions are made with future generations in mind.

“As a Nation, we’re not waiting for fire to come, we’re leading with proactive solutions rooted in many Indigenous values,” said Dan Macmaster, Forestry Manager, OIB and Head of Forestry at Siya Forestry. “This project is one more step toward keeping our people, infrastructure, and lands safe for generations to come.”

About Siya Forestry

Established in February 2024, Siya Forestry is a joint venture between Nk’Mip Forestry LLP of the Osoyoos Indian Band and Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group Ltd., dedicated to advancing forestry practices and supporting community development in the Okanagan, Kootenay, and Boundary regions. Learn More here: https://siyaforestry.ca/

Follow Siya Forestry on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siya-forestry?trk=public_post_feed-actorimage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Siya-Forestry-LP/61562043298370/

For more information or an interview with Siya Forestry, contact:

Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, (250) 574 0221 | aleece@amplifyinc.ca