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Whitefeather Forest

Learn about the history and landscape of the Whitefeather Forest and Pikangikum First Nation.

Land-Use Plan

Read Keeping the Land, the first community-based Land Use Plan in northwestern Ontario. It is also available in syllabics.

Forest Management Plan

Read a copy of the approved 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan for the Whitefeather Forest on the Natural Resources Information Portal (NRIP).

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.