A good turnout of about 60 people joined the Canim Lake Band (CLB) for its Tree Celebration event on May 28.
The event was held to recognize and celebrate a financial donation from Canadian National Railways (CN) for the purchase of 30,000 tree seedlings to plant on the band’s forest licence lands.
The CN program works in partnership with Tree Canada, a non-profit reforestation organization that takes care of the ground work to make replanting happen.
Event organizer Shayla Archie says a buffet lunch was served before a ceremony and in the Eliza Archie Memorial School (EAMS) gym. Then, they went outdoors for a ceremonial tree planting outside the band office to commemorate the event.
CLB Chief Mike Archie, several Elders, forester John Kalmokoff, community members, and EAMS students were joined by some special guests.
Shayla says the main event began with a welcome by Chief Archie, followed by traditional drummers and dancers.
During the speeches, Chief Archie presented a drum to special guest CN Police representative, Const. Mike Stewart, in gratitude and recognition of its generous gift of trees.
“Everybody enjoyed the drumming and dancing ceremony inside, and the presentation of the drum,” Shayla notes.
Other special guests included Tree Canada B.C. community advisor Christian Walli, Brinkman & Associates (silviculture corporation) CEO Dirk Brinkman, and West Fraser Timber Co. planning forester Malcolm Sutton.
Malcolm, who is based in Williams Lake, says he attended the event because West Fraser was interested in what the band is doing.
“We are very happy for them that they were able to secure [those trees]…. I understand there were only seven applications approved in the United States and Canada, so it was a pretty big deal.”
Kalmokoff adds CN’s program provides trees to community forestry efforts, as part of the corporation’s commitment to leaving a green footprint.
“They are supporting the Canim Lake Band forestry ventures and the recovery of the mountain pine beetle epidemic as well. This is all mountain pine beetle logging that they are replanting.”
Shayla notes the seedling planting is well underway.
