Faculty of Forestry professors John Nelson and Gary Bull have been recognized for partnering with the Maiyoo Keyoh Society to deliver a course on sustainable forest management.
In the course, students work with the First Nation community to develop forest management plans. The Maiyoo Keyoh Society approached UBC’s Faculty of Forestry in 2007 looking for help to develop high-level plans to protect local forest habitat, wildlife and cultural resources.
For the past six years, groups of students from Nelson and Bull’s Forestry 424 class have visited different Keyohs and developed plans for community forestry projects. The students gain a better understanding of local community values and how to apply knowledge about Aboriginal rights and title. This prepares them for their future careers as foresters and working with Aboriginal communities.
Nelson and Bull were honoured at a Dene ilhuana hooz leh event, which means “bring people together.” The celebration, held in Fort St. John on JuIy 1, was the first of its kind that the Keyohs have held in 40 to 50 years. For more information, visit here.
