The Haida and Logging on Haida Gwaii

Summary

The Haida Nation’s fight for control over Haida Gwaii's forests is a story of protest, negotiation, and ultimate victory. From the late 19th century, the Haida have battled logging companies and governments over resource management. Key moments include the 1987 South Moresby agreement, the creation of Gwaii Haanas National Park, and the 2007 strategic land-use agreement. Today, the Haida have gained significant control over forest practices, with a focus on sustainable resource management, marking a historic shift in Indigenous land governance and setting precedents for other First Nations across Canada.

Takeaways

• 😀 Haida Gwaii, a remote archipelago in British Columbia, is home to 4,800 people, over 2,000 of whom are Indigenous Haida. Logging has been a major industry since the late 19th century.
• 😀 In the 1970s, Haida leaders began protesting unsustainable logging practices, particularly in the South Moresby area, which led to their first major confrontation with the logging industry in 1985.
• 😀 The Haida Nation's protests, including the blockade of logging roads on Lyle Island in 1985, eventually forced the Canadian government and forestry companies to negotiate, resulting in landmark agreements.
• 😀 The South Moresby Memorandum of Understanding in 1987 and the South Moresby Agreement in 1988 laid the groundwork for creating a national park to protect the South Moresby region of Haida Gwaii.
• 😀 In 1993, the creation of Gwaii Haanas National Park, governed by both the Haida Nation and the Canadian government, marked the first time a First Nation co-managed a national park in Canada.
• 😀 Despite the success of the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, logging continued at high rates on other parts of Haida Gwaii, prompting the Haida to engage in further land-use negotiations in the 2000s.
• 😀 In 2005, the Haida led the 'Island Spirit Rising' movement, a series of protests against foreign logging interests, which ultimately halted the sale of key logging rights in the region.
• 😀 The Haida Nation entered into a period of intense negotiations with the provincial government, resulting in the Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement of 2007, which outlined principles for sustainable land management and ecosystem-based forestry.
• 😀 In 2010, the Haida achieved a major victory with the signing of the Reconciliation Protocol, granting them more control over logging practices, including approval of the annual allowable cut for the islands.
• 😀 The Haida Nation's long-term strategy for forest management has included securing carbon credits and pursuing sustainable logging practices, culminating in the acquisition of significant logging rights on Haida Gwaii, ensuring environmental protection and economic sustainability.

Q & A

What was the main catalyst for the logging industry on Haida Gwaii?

The main catalyst for the logging industry on Haida Gwaii was the discovery of abundant stands of red cedar and western hemlock in the late 19th century. The demand for timber during World War II, especially for Sitka spruce to build mosquito bombers, further accelerated the exploitation of these forests.

How did the Haida people initially respond to the expansion of logging on their lands?

The Haida people began to worry about the destructive nature of the logging industry, especially its expansion into the island's old-growth forests. They began negotiating with both provincial and federal governments to create protected areas in the south of the archipelago.

What was the significance of the 1985 blockade on Lyle Island?

The 1985 blockade on Lyle Island was a pivotal moment in the Haida's resistance to logging. It marked a shift from negotiations to direct action, as the Haida blocked a logging road to protect the South Moresby wilderness area, eventually leading to the creation of the South Moresby Agreement.

What agreements resulted from the Haida's actions in the 1980s and 1990s?

In response to the Haida's activism, the South Moresby Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 1987, followed by the South Moresby Agreement in 1988. This led to the creation of Gwaii Haanas National Park in 1993, which was co-managed by the Haida and the Canadian government.

What was the impact of the Gwaii Haanas National Park on logging on Haida Gwaii?

The creation of Gwaii Haanas National Park significantly reduced logging in the region, particularly in the southern half of Haida Gwaii. The park, co-managed by the Haida and the Canadian government, also became a symbol of the Haida's growing influence in environmental management.

How did the Haida Nation continue to assert control over the logging industry after the creation of Gwaii Haanas?

After the creation of Gwaii Haanas, the Haida Nation continued to negotiate with logging companies and the provincial government. Key agreements, such as the 2001 Land Use Protocol and the 2005 Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement, further established their control over resource management and led to more protected areas on the islands.

What role did the Haida play in the 2005 'Island Spirit Rising' blockade?

The Haida played a central role in the 2005 'Island Spirit Rising' blockade, a protest against the potential sale of Tree Farm License 39 to a foreign logging company. This island-wide movement helped prevent the sale and highlighted the Haida's commitment to sustainable resource management.

What were the key outcomes of the 2007 Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement?

The 2007 Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement resulted in more protected areas, a framework for sustainable resource use, and the adoption of ecosystem-based management. It also set the stage for co-management between the Haida and provincial authorities.

How did the Reconciliation Protocol of 2010 impact the Haida's control over logging on their lands?

The Reconciliation Protocol of 2010 solidified the Haida's control over land-use decisions by establishing a shared decision-making process with the provincial government. It also granted the Haida Nation additional forest tenure and created a system for carbon credits, providing an incentive for conservation.

What was the significance of the Haida's acquisition of Tree Farm License 60 in the 2010s?

The Haida's acquisition of Tree Farm License 60, previously held by Western Forest Products, marked a major milestone in their control over logging operations. By taking over the license, the Haida stopped market logging of monumental cedar trees and committed to sustainable forest management practices.