…Chief James Thomas said in a letter to council that the Halalt community is concerned that North Cowichan made that decision in August considering the efforts of the municipality and the First Nation to establish a co-management framework for the 5,000-hectare MFR, and in light of the significant concerns Halalt members have raised regarding the impacts of forest operations in the Chemainus watershed.  …Thomas said the MFR is located within the Halalt’s unceded territory and the land is essential to the First Nation’s life and culture, and this includes the forests within the MFR and the surrounding landscape.  …Speaking for the majority of council, Coun. Bruce Findlay argued that North Cowichan could make some much-needed money if the sustainable harvesting of the natural resource resumed.