The Osoyoos Indian Band is a progressive First Nations community in and around the towns of Oliver and Osoyoos, BC.
Their Area of Responsibility stretches from the Southern Okanagan east to the Kootenays. They are the holders of Woodlot 1500 awarded in 1997 plus a First Nations Woodland Licence and a few non-replaceable Forest Licenses in the Okanagan Shuswap and Selkirk Resource Districts.
The Allowable Annual Cut of W1500 was 1,231 cubic meters, however the Nk’Mip Creek wildfire in 2021 has drastically reduced this volume to almost nil. The Band received a Cut Control exemption to log after the fire. There are some Private (Schedule A) Reserve lands attached to the woodlot. They have a group of in-house forest professionals who manage their harvest of about 100,000 cubic meters per year from all their forest tenures.
The woodlot is in a transition zone between semi-arid desert, Bunchgrass and Interior Douglas Fir ecosystems, primarily consisting of Ponderosa Pine with some Douglas Fir and Deciduous tree species. Forest regeneration is difficult due to the dry climate and lack of moisture.
There are numerous archaeological sites in proximity to the woodlot with historical significance to the community. There is general support from band members for the management of the woodlot and other forest tenures. The band aims to preserve cultural values while providing employment opportunities and revenue with a focus on environmentally sustainable practices in their management plans.
Some challenges include poor access to the woodlot, presence of species at risk such as rattlesnakes, regrowing trees due to dry conditions, loss of wildlife habitat and traditional use areas for the community. Also, there is the possibility of a new National Park proposed for the area that may impact the woodlot. The fire severely impacted areas traditionally used for hunting and gathering medicinal plants. There has been a shift towards managing non-timber values and encouraging local community engagement by restoring traditional uses, such as berry picking, and improving access for educational purposes.
Some memorable experiences are getting the community involved in forestry programs such as planning, brushing, fire hazard reduction to reduce the impact of wildfire on local ecosystems.
They have begun some non-timber forest resource harvesting such as collecting Ponderosa Pine pollen for markets. They feel that the woodlot is a good tenure opportunity for local First Nation communities to manage their local forests. There is a history of use in the area for food sources via an old access road and views down the valley from the woodlot.
The Band stresses the importance of integrating cultural values into woodlot management, addressing challenges posed by environmental factors, and fostering community engagement in forestry practices. There is a commitment to restoring the woodlot and enhancing its value for future generations.
Some advice for future First Nations Woodlotters is to engage the community in discussions about management goals and values, develop management plans that reflect community needs and values, be proactive in addressing wildfire risks and explore funding opportunities for fire hazard reduction.
In October 2025, Woodlots BC held its conference and AGM at Spirit Ridge Resort on Osoyoos Indian Band land.
Article written by John McClary
