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Land-Use Plan
Read Keeping the Land, the first community-based Land Use Plan in northwestern Ontario. It is also available in syllabics.
About Us
The Whitefeather Forest Initiative is an economic renewal initiative created by the Elders of Pikangikum First Nation. Our mandate is to create employment and training opportunities for Pikangikum youth via a Whitefeather Forest products enterprise.
Central to the initiative are the principles that Pikangikum people be ‘in the driver’s seat’ for all economic activities that take place on the land and that every tree harvested from the Whitefeather forest be put to its best and most valuable end-use.
Whitefeather Forest Community Resource Management Authority (WFCRMA) is the institution responsible for the Whitefeather Forest Initiative. It holds the Sustainable Forest License (SFL) to the Whitefeather Forest on behalf of Pikangikum, which to date is the only single-entity SFL in Ontario in the Far North and held by a First Nations organization. It is an arms-length nonprofit headquartered in Pikangikum.
WFCRMA is responsible for planning and management activities in the Whitefeather Forest. WFCRMA is led by a board of directors and executive team entirely from Pikangikum First Nation. With its team of Indigenous Knowledge experts and professional foresters, WFCRMA manages the SFL in accordance with Crown Forest Sustainability Act and Keeping the Land.
To learn more, please click here.
Advancing Reconciliation through Sustainable Forest Management
VISION
To maintain the Whitefeather Forest for future generations via Indigenous light-footprint stewardship that supports a healthy and sustainable economy​
MISSION
To develop training and employment opportunities for Pikangikum youth via a Whitefeather Forest products enterprise​
History
The Whitefeather Forest Initiative is guided by our Elders for our youth today and for future generations. Our Elders are the inspiration of the Initiative and gave the original mandate to develop the Whitefeather Forest Initiative in 1996. In 2000 they formed the Whitefeather Forest Initiative Steering group through which they guide the Initiative. Other Indigenous Knowledge experts from Pikangikum also participate on the Steering Group.
Guided by our Elders
In our Ojibway culture we honour and esteem Elders who have contribute greatly to maintaining our identity and way of life. They are referred to not just as Akiwenziwug, or elderly ones, but as Kitchi Anishinaabeg or Kitchi Aywii’ug meaning highly esteemed ones. Over the years, the Whitefeather Forest Initiative has achieved many milestones that we outline below in the timeline.
Community Support
We gratefully acknowledge the following former Chiefs of Pikangikum First Nation, who together with their Councils, have supported our work to develop the Whitefeather Forest Initiative.
- Dean Owen
- Charlie Pascal
- Gordon Peters
- Paddy Peters
- The late Louie H. Quill
- Peter Quill
- Amanda Sainnawap
- Jonah Strang

Some of the Elders who were with us at the beginning of planning for the Whitefeather Forest Initiative are no longer with us today. We honour and cherish the wonderful gifts of knowledge and guidance that they have contributed to the planning of the Initiative. Please see the In Memorium page for their names.
News
New Website Launched!
Welcome to our new website! We are excited to launch our new look. Please feel free to reach out[…]
Contact
Get in Touch
We are an arms-length corporation headquartered in Pikangikum First Nation with a sub office in Red Lake. You can reach us by phone, fax or email.
