Tree Farm Licence 38 Buy-Out (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Forestry)

I. Context & Motivation

For many years, the Squamish Nation watched their lands stripped of old-growth forest wealth. Industrial logging operations in the upper Squamish River valley along the Ashlu, Elaho, Sims Creek, and Clendenning tributaries had been extracting timber for decades without Squamish participation or consent.

The logging trucks ran directly through Squamish reserves to access sort yards. As Chief Ian Campbell described it: “We saw all the wealth literally flowing through our lands with zero benefit, without our consent, and without compensation.” Settlers had been stripping the lands through Tree Farm Licence 38.

When the Nation initiated its independent land use plan (Xay Temixw) in 2003, they approached the provincial Land and Resource Management Planning (LRMP) process. They quickly realized the terms of reference wouldn’t entertain any new protected areas. The Province claimed 12% of BC was protected through parks—but had never consulted with Squamish Nation on what attributes to protect, whether co-management was possible, or how parks might affect Aboriginal rights and title.

The Nation walked from the provincial table.

II. Strategy & Planning

The Squamish Nation conducted their own independent land use planning process—Xay Temixw.

This involved deep listening and consultation with community members over two to three years: focus groups with youth and elders, getting people out on the land, and numerous general meetings. The Nation hired consultants to help structure land use plans but opted not to try solving all issues at once between the Crown’s claims and the Nation’s title.

Instead, they conducted their own analysis of infringements—documenting impacts from pre-settlement through decades of colonization and encroachment on Squamish rights and title. This became the rationale for examining what inventory remained.

The result: 50,000 hectares (8% of Squamish territory) were designated as protected Wild Spirit Places—the last non-roaded, non-industrial areas within the territory. The Nation drew polygons and asserted protection without asking permission from any other level of government. These areas would be managed according to Squamish cultural and spiritual values, not just Western regulatory frameworks.

The plan also established restoration areas for heavily impacted zones, sensitive areas requiring access management, and frameworks for wildlife management: reintroduction of elk co-managed with the Province, grizzly studies funded by the Nation, ungulate winter range, eagle roosting habitat, and salmon enhancement projects.

III. Negotiation & Execution

With the land use plan reducing the effective size of the Tree Farm Licence, the Nation approached Interfor with a proposition: it’s better to sell now, before feeling the full bite and impact of Nation-controlled access and land use planning.

The Nation conducted quantification of inventory; examining forest composition and access, and negotiated a $5 million acquisition. The Tree Farm Licence is a 30-year term with two renewable 30-year terms, representing 90 years of operational control.

The negotiation was relatively expedient. Interfor saw the vision and began developing an exit strategy.

Recognizing forestry wasn’t a core competency, the Nation outsourced to Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Forestry, a partnership with industry operators to keep the company afloat. The goal was not maximum extraction but operating “in a Squamish manner”: keeping people employed while breaking even.

The forestry portfolio expanded to include woodlot licences, community forest licences, and other area-based tenures.

IV. Environmental & Cultural Outcomes

The TFL-38 acquisition was never primarily about revenue. It was about control, access, and the ability to manage lands according to Squamish cultural and spiritual values.

In 2014, a major forest fire burned approximately 20,000 hectares at the upper end of the licence—so hot it burned to bare rock in places. Recovery will take a long time. But the Nation continues to hold TFL-38 for its governance value.

The Nation has since taken over provincial recreation sites within the TFL, creating designated campgrounds to contain people in specific areas. This prevents impacts from human waste, poaching, and other activities—providing greater mechanisms and controls to monitor and manage forest service roads.

V. Governance & Revenue

The Nation mobilized its business community across the entire forestry value chain: sort yards, marketing, scaling, engineering, road building, silviculture, and hauling.

Some members invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment. The Nation provided backstop guarantees and direct-award competitive advantages to keep community livelihoods stable.

Looking forward, the Nation is developing a ranger program covering both Howe Sound marine territory and terrestrial TFL lands. Rangers would operate in an observe-record-report capacity but also carry enforcement authority, badges and sidearms, working alongside DFO, conservation officers, parks rangers, and RCMP.

These agencies have welcomed Squamish participation. Many are underfunded and understaffed, and see Indigenous integration as strengthening, not competing with their mandates. Nation members are interested in these field opportunities, potentially trained through JIBC or other mechanisms. The Nation is examining other nations across Canada and internationally that are involved in similar enforcement and territorial management.

VI. Broader Impact & Reflection

TFL-38 demonstrates that land-based governance is not about excluding industry, it’s about ensuring development reflects Indigenous priorities, cultural values, and long-term stewardship.

The independent land use planning process (Xay Temixw) became the foundation for all subsequent negotiations, including the nine run-of-river clean energy projects developed in the territory, the wildlife reintroduction programs, and the broader approach to major industrial projects like Woodfibre LNG.

Sometimes the most valuable outcome is not what flows from the land but who decides what happens on it.