Indigenous participation in the forestry industry is critical for economic growth, environmental stewardship, and community sustainability.

However, several challenges hinder full engagement, including skills shortages, limited access to training, procurement barriers, and a lack of integration between Indigenous Knowledge and Western forestry practices. This paper examines these issues and provides recommendations to strengthen Indigenous involvement in forestry.

This report expands on the initial installation of CCIB’s forestry-specific research titled Success and Sustainability: An Introduction to Indigenous Participation in the Forestry Sector. It explores the current landscape of professional skills development in the forestry sector. By pairing secondary research with firsthand insights from Indigenous forestry firms and other key non-Indigenous stakeholders, the report aims to identify shortcomings, successes, and requirements for ensuring the success of Indigenous employees and businesses. This includes identifying the opportunities and challenges Indigenous firms experience in forestry-related skills development.