A goal to carry out future cultural burning

With funding investments provided by the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), Kenpesq’t Forestry LP (Kenpesq’t), the economic development company of the Shuswap Band, conducted a wildfire risk reduction project in the Juniper Heights area, covering approximately an 80-hectare area east of Invermere.

While a few smaller projects similar in scale already existed within the area, this project helped complete the initial efforts to ensure investments toward reducing the heavy forest fuel load, or flammable material, was not lost.

Finalized in April, the project further built local First Nations’ capacity, provided environmental, social, and cultural benefits to the community, enhanced wildlife habitat, and presented the opportunity for the introduction of cultural burns in the future.

“The Shuswap Band is proud to take part in this vital, Indigenous-led initiative in partnership with the Province of British Columbia and Kenpesq’t,” said Shuswap Band Chief Barbara Cote. “By focusing on proactive and preventative measures, this program strengthens our collective efforts to mitigate the risks of future forest fires. It also provides a meaningful cultural learning experience that not only supports our community but contributes to the safety and well-being of the wider public, while ensuring the protection of all of our wildlife and plants for future generations.”

Juniper Heights, a residential area located just outside the Shuswap Band Reserve, has historically undergone wildfire risk reduction treatments. However, over time, the area has experienced coniferous encroachment, a process in which conifer trees spread into and gradually replace open landscapes, such as grasslands, primarily due to the absence of regular burning practices.

“This shift in vegetation increased fuel loads and altered the landscape,” explained Aaron Lee, Woodlands Manager for Kenpesq’t. “As such, Juniper Heights was an excellent candidate for renewed treatment—not only to enhance wildfire resilience but also to support the reintroduction of cultural burning practices in the future.”

Upon receiving project approval in October 2022, work on-site commenced by April 2024 and the final steps, which included grass seeding, were completed a year later. Kenpesq’t was the prime contractor on the project and was responsible for the development of the plan, project management, organization of crews, supervision, and submissions to the funder, FESBC.

The treatment work for the project included the manual cutting of small, immature trees, hand piling branches and forest debris, and burning the piles in compliance with the Ministry of Environment and Parks’ Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation to eliminate the forest fuel from the sites.

“This work primarily entailed crews with chainsaws, cutting small diameter trees, bucking or cutting them into smaller pieces, and piling them to be burned. The trees cut were not ‘merchantable’, meaning they were not large enough to turn into dimensional lumber,” explained Travis Emsland, Registered Professional Forester and Operations Manager with FESBC.

The total investment from FESBC was $622,520.97, which helped cover several components of this project, including the Preliminary Field Reconnaissance and Wildfire Risk Reduction surveys to inspect the area, cutting, piling, and burning, as well as grass seeding old burn pile locations to help minimize the proliferation of invasive plants in the exposed soil.

“FESBC is a vital source of funding at a time when climate change is accelerating, and effective wildfire risk reduction is more critical than ever for the safety and resilience of our communities,” shared Lee. “Working with their operations managers has been a great experience. They’ve been great to collaborate with, bringing valuable knowledge and a strong understanding of the importance of these projects and First Nations involvement.”

The project came to fruition through the hard work and the vision of the Shuswap Band, who have worked tirelessly to increase their workforce capacity. In addition, having First Nations lead this work helps strengthen connections to the land and provides meaningful opportunities for youth to engage in wildfire risk reduction and gain experience in forestry.

“First Nations have been working very hard to get a foothold in the forest industry. We do this to make an impact from a Cultural and Indigenous Science approach to the management decisions that affect our Rights and Title on the landscape, but also to have economic opportunities previously withheld from us. Our role as caretakers to our territories is an important one that Indigenous Peoples take seriously,” added Shuswap Band Coun. Mark Thomas.

“Shuswap Band is undertaking a wildfire risk reduction project on lands adjacent to our reserve. The intent is to limit the risk from forest fires, provide training, develop partnerships, provide economic opportunities to the Band and our member businesses.

“Shuswap Band is very proud of the work performed and intends to continue to capitalize on all aspects of forest management, from harvest to protection, inclusive of cultural values.”

To date, this project has helped reduce fire fuel loading within the Wildland Urban Interface near the community of Juniper Heights. Given that a portion of the work was completed in previously treated areas, the project has helped successfully maintain these efforts to provide an environment suitable for future cultural and prescribed burns, which in turn will help reduce wildfire risk to the community.

As Lee further noted, “Wildfire risk reduction is a necessary step toward reintroducing cultural burning. Given the current state of the landscape and the areas that require burning, it’s an essential part of the overall process, and we are currently planning to conduct a cultural burn in the Juniper Heights project area.”

In addition, the work done will also enhance wildlife habitat for a number of species, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk.

Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, acknowledged the importance of the project and its impact on forest health and community safety. “Wildfire risk reduction projects like this one led by Kenpesq’t Forestry are exactly the kind of project we need more of: community-driven, and practical solutions that deliver economic, environmental, and cultural benefits today and for future generations to come. With support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, these efforts are helping First Nations-led forestry companies like Kenpesq’t create good family supporting jobs.”

“After all, this is not just about reducing wildfire risk – these investments are laying the groundwork for long-term forest resilience, and stronger more resilient communities across the province.”

Moving forward, the project team acknowledges that collaboration will be essential—among organizations, communities, and the public.

Lee summed up the future work by saying, “Cultural burning and meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities will be fundamental to the success of future wildfire management strategies.”

Lead image: The cutting crew for the project.  Aaron Lee photo

Forest Enhancement Society of BC

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