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Splatsin and Tolko renew pioneering forest management partnership

Splatsin te Secwépemculucw and Tolko Industries proudly announce the signing of a renewed relationship agreement — titled the “Mlkwátaka” (place where we come together) — which serves to support and advance this long-standing partnership built upon mutual trust and respect.

The essence of the Mlkwátaka Agreement, evident in its name, lies in its mission to unite Splatsin and Tolko together on their continued journey of learning and growth. Splatsin and Tolko share a vision to advance innovative forest management practices while respecting and implementing Splatsin’s traditional laws, values and principles. Splatsin and Tolko have been collaborating on land management, forest management and business opportunities since 2008, and the initial version of this relationship agreement was first established in 2012.

“Splatsinaca (Splatsin People) have been caretakers of the land and all our relations since time immemorial,” says Kukpi7 Michael Christian. “Our relationship with Tolko has been ongoing since the early 2000’s and we look forward to continuing to work together on co-managing the tmicw (land) in accordance with Splatsin te Secwépemculucw values and laws. Our relationship and how we work together is a model for co-management that we plan to implement throughout Splatsin area of caretaker responsibility. Kukwstsamc to the Splatsin community members who have supported this work, to our technical staff and to the previous Kukpi7 and Tkwamipla7s who have been instrumental in ensuring this work moves forward in a good way. Kukwstsamc to Tolko and all their staff who have participated in this work and who have been willing to partner with our community.”

At its core, the Mlkwátaka Agreement stems from the acknowledgement that the Splatsinaca have an inherent right to steward the land by embracing the cultural perspectives of land management and working collaboratively to balance economic interests with Splatsin’s land stewardship objectives.

“We all have a role to play in creating the conditions for success and the Mlkwátaka Agreement is a great example of how Tolko and the communities we partner with are driving change and doing things differently,” says Janis Simpkins, Tolko’s vice-president of Indigenous and government relations and sustainability. “Indigenous communities have a deep connection to — and knowledge of — the places they have called home and the territories they have stewarded since time immemorial. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from partnerships like this; we all benefit from healthy forests and thriving forest ecosystems.”

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