Drone picture of a barren area directly east of the potential clear-cut event. (Submitted/ Dave Rondeau)

By Nigel Maxwell

Save the forest

Two year extension granted for Island Forest design discussions

Jun 23, 2025 | 11:39 AM

The Ministry of Environment`s Forest Service has completed its duty to consult process regarding a proposed Forest Harvest Design and Reforestation Activities for the Island Forests Timber Supply Area.

In a statement provided to paNOW, the ministry confirmed based on the input received from local Métis and First Nations communities, logging events in the Central Nisbet Forest, south of Holbein have been deferred until March 31, 2027.

“No harvesting will be considered in these areas until the development of the next harvest design plan, which will be for the 2027/2028 and operating years going forward,” the statement said “Consultation on those harvest designs will begin in the late summer or fall of 2026.”

Concerns with the government’s plans came to a head in January of last year when a group of protestors showed up at the forestry centre in downtown Prince Albert.

Four months later, the group received notice the government would halt action another year. Dave Rondeau has been a spokesperson for the group and was also involved in the archaeological discovery of a bison bone near Holbein that dates back over 11,000 years. He said the moratorium extension is a win for everybody involved.

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“Including the ministry because it it demonstrates the consultation framework works. It’s there to provide a platform for people who have concerns about the industry or the forestry projects within their territory. it provides an opportunity for a voice for the grassroots people,” he said.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Rondeau noted the people that came together around this consultation were not primarily First Nation or Métis, but it was the pioneer community that voice their opinion.

“And nobody was on board for this.”

Rondeau explained the Island Forest possesses a fragile soil substrate and once you log it, you’ve done things that cannot be undone.

“Where we live here this used to be the Mecca for berry picking and now there’s none and it’s all of the result of the previous logging activity.”

While acknowledging the group had asked for a three year moratorium, Rondeau confirmed there is more to be done and stated the current and planned archaeological projects happening in the area reinforce the need to protect the territory as an archaeological resource, and as a heritage resource.

Bone fragments found at the site west of Prince Albert. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Elder Sam Badger was involved in the consultations and while noting he was happy with the extension, also expressed he was feeling kind of leery. He noted the moratorium is only for two years and added there’s concern about the federal government’s Bill C-5 which relates to major capital projects, and in Badger’s words, gives government the right in his words to do whatever they want.

“These things are pretty concerning,” he said.

With respect to how the meetings went, Badger said he did not feel his concerns were listened to. He said he attempted to talk to the government about the traditional burning ceremonies that were once done by First Nations across Canada.

“Through the years they eventually burned down the whole forest, but that’s natural. It would rejuvenate and all the same growth would come up, but the clear cutting just destroys everything.”

Badger noted the government stated they would transplant the berries and the medicines and all that, but he believes that’s impossible.

“There’s not be any life, they are slowly killing the earth.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social