Forestry management firm partners with First Nation

Key Takeaways:

• B.C.-based Strategic Natural Resource Consultants is a majority Indigenous-owned company and employee-owned company.
• Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has been a long-term client of the firm.
• Strategic officials say the move will greatly help the firm’s ability to navigate relations with Indigenous communities.

The Whole Story:

The Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has purchased a majority interest in Strategic Natural Resource Consultants. 

The Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation is a northern Nuu-chah-nulth Tribe whose traditional territory covers 750 square kilometres in Esperanza Inlet between Nootka Island and Kyuquot Channel in B.C. The main community, Ehatis in Zeballos where they have owned and operated forest licenses since the 1970s, has equity investments in hydro power production, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.

Strategic is one of the largest resource management consulting firms in B.C. with 190 employees in offices in Fort St. John, Prince George, Port McNeill, Nanaimo, and Campbell River.

“Our staff here at Strategic are pleased that our long-term client has become a partner in our business,” said the company in its announcement. “We know our new partners will bring a lot of new energy to the firm that will help us strengthen how we do business and our relationship with our clients.”

The firm explained that they are now uniquely structured as a majority Indigenous-owned and employee-owned natural resource service provider.

“Our relationship with the Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has grown over the years and when they approached us, we were both honoured and excited,” said Niels Jorgensen, founder and managing partner at Strategic. “With one of the partners wanting to move on, the timing worked out well and our staff across B.C. are excited. I think everyone is viewing the Nation’s move as a validation of how our company has operated over the years. Having new directors will let us navigate the changing landscape of relations with BC’s Indigenous communities.”

Chief Simon John of the Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation stated that he believes the partnership will help both parties. 

“Our membership has asked us to find investments and opportunities that will help our Nation grow and we saw a perfect fit,” said John. “We think the strengths they have as a company are really aligned with what we need as a Nation, but we are more excited about having a company that is successful across the province, works for a lot of industries and has great leadership and a team who want to embrace new technologies.”