The Kwanwatsi Big House at the We Wai Kum First Nation in Campbell River was the ideal place to formally sign a historic agreement between North Island First Nations and Western Forest Products. We Wai Kum Chief Chris Roberts was the first to speak, which included Dallas Smith as MC, B.C. Premier David Eby, Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston and Western Forest Products CEO Steven Hofer. The agreement allows the Nations in the Na̲nwak̲olas Council to acquire a 34% interest from WFP in a newly formed limited partnership for $35.9 million. The partnership will consist of portions of WFP’s Mid Island operation, including 157,000 hectares. It will also manage an allowable annual cut of 904,540 cubic metres of timber. “It’s really a new approach to how the land base is going to be managed,” said Hofer. “It’s not Western saying to the Nations that this is how it’s going to be managed … it’s a collaborative process.”