PRINCE GEORGE — In a landmark shift for the northern forestry sector, the Ministry of Forests announced on January 30, 2026, the transfer of one million cubic metres of timber rights to a powerful new coalition of the Witset, Wet’suwet’en, and Lake Babine Nations.
The ceremony, held during the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, saw nine regional chiefs sign an agreement that effectively repatriates a significant portion of the Morice Timber Supply Area (TSA) to Indigenous stewardship.
The “Canfor Undercut” and the Houston Vacuum
The timber in question was previously held by forestry giant Canfor to supply its sawmill in Houston, B.C.. Since the mill’s closure in 2023, these rights—known as the “undercut” because they were slated for harvest but remained untouched—had essentially been locked away, leaving the local economy in a state of paralysis.
Lake Babine Nation leader Wilf Adam revealed during the signing that the coalition had initially approached Canfor with a “fair market value” offer to purchase the rights. According to Adam, the company refused to engage and closed communications, a move he criticized for prioritizing “shareholder profits over regional economic stability”.
“This is about sovereignty,” said Wet’suwet’en Chief Kloum Khun (Alphonse Gagnon). “Indigenous nations should no longer have to pay for forest tenures on our own lands”.
A Five-Year Stabilization Plan
The transfer is designed as a corrective measure against corporate “tenure sitting”. The coalition’s new five-year forestry licence aims to:
- Restore Fibre Flow: Provide immediate access to logs for smaller local mills and value-added manufacturers.
- Economic Corridor Stability: Bolster the economies of Burns Lake, Granisle, Houston, Smithers, and Witset, which have suffered from a chronic fibre deficit since the “supermills” began closing.
- Indigenous Leadership: Move beyond mere consultation into direct management and leadership of forest resources according to Indigenous laws.
The “Use It or Lose It” Precedent
This development signals a “watershed moment” in B.C. forestry policy. Chief Kloum Khun noted that the historical model—where massive parcels were granted to a few companies under the belief of “endless supply”—is dead. Natural disasters like the pine beetle epidemic and wildfires have forced a transition to a more “patient, long-term vision” focused on local community value rather than industrial volume.
The Ministry of Forests is now facing increased pressure to apply similar “use it or lose it” mechanisms to other undercuts across the province, ensuring that the benefits of B.C.’s forests remain with the people who live among them.
