Indicator 6.1.2 - Area of forest land owned by Aboriginal peoples
core indicator


The area of forest land managed or controlled by Aboriginal peoples in Canada varies considerably among jurisdictions, and the data on which current information is based require significant updating (Table 6.1b). For example, the most recent published information for the area of First Nations' on-reserve forest lands dates back to the early 1990s. Additions to reserves, and the amount of land (particularly forest land) acquired by First Nations through land claims, treaty land entitlements, or band purchases are not readily available in published form. Moreover, information on the modest amount of land owned by Métis or Inuit peoples is also lacking. What is known, however, is that the amount of forest land coming under the control of First Nations through land claims, treaty land entitlements, and additions to reserves is increasing in most jurisdictions, particularly western Canada.

The amount of forest land owned or managed by Aboriginal peoples may indicate growing participation in forest management and forest-based economic activity. The increased involvement in forestry of the Nisga'a Nation in British Columbia, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, the Wikwemikong Nation in Ontario, and the Cree in northern Quebec clearly indicates this growth. As the First Nations' land base grows, so does their involvement in forest management, including the development of forestry businesses and other business arrangements, and of wood product processing, as well as the expression of traditional and cultural values.

The ownership of large tracts of forest land and the various economic and development activities that will evolve from it will also provide significant longterm sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal workers in all areas of forestry operations, processing, and marketing. In the mid- to long term, Aboriginal peoples will therefore become stronger players in Canada's forest sector.

To benefit from updated information on the amount of forest land under First Nations' management, decision and policy makers will require the short-term development and maintenance of a database that describes various landbase attributes, such as size, ownership, and location. Such information will assist in determining the extent to which Aboriginal peoples are becoming more involved in sustainable forest management in Canada.

Table 6.1b Estimated area of forest land owned by Aboriginal peoples by jurisdiction (hectares). (Sources: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 1993; provincial and territorial agencies)

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Jurisdiction	First Nations		Métis	Inuit	Total
	On-reserve forest land managed by First Nations	Other owned or controlled, but not part of reserve lands
NL	0	0	0	0	0
PE	522	0	0	0	522
NS	8 077	0	0	0	8 077
NB	13 002	0	0	0	13 002
QC	297 932	253 000a	0	815 190	1 366 122
ON	393 305	286 546	0		679 851
MB	93 441	440 250b	0	0	533 691
SK	243 020	197 375	0	0	440 395
AB	176 296	0	520 298	0	696 594
BC	155 403	225 218	0	0	380 621
YT	578	880 790c	0	0	881 368
NT	1 872	0	0	0	1 872
NU	nad	na	na	na	na
Total	1 383 448	2 283 179	520 298	815 190	5 002 115

^a In addition, 23 000 ha could be transferred to the Quebec Innu and another 330 000 ha are classified as Cree Category 1A lands, retained for the exclusive use of the Cree people, but owned and managed by the government of Quebec.
^b This area represents the total amount of land that will come into the ownership of 19 First Nations through the Treaty Land Entitlement process.
^c Represents the inventoried portion of First Nations' lands only.
^d na: Information not available.

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