Western Forest Products and Qwoqwnes Forestry Holdings Limited Partnership, an entity owned and controlled by Tla’amin Nation, have reached an agreement for Qwoqwnes to purchase a 100-per-cent ownership interest in the assets comprising Western’s Stillwater Forest operation near Powell River for $80 million.
According to a news release, the operation includes Block 1 of Tree Farm Licence 39 and covers about 154,000 hectares of forest land, most of it within Tla’amin Nation’s traditional territory.
Qwoqwnes will manage an allowable annual cut of about 469,200 cubic metres of timber from Block 1 and will enter into an agreement with Western to sell harvested timber to support Western’s B.C. coastal manufacturing operations.
“This acquisition brings another 43 per cent of Tla’amin territory back under our stewardship and control,” said Tla’amin Hegus and economic development board member John Hackett. “We look forward to reconnecting with this vast part of our territory and managing the lands according to Tla’amin teachings and values for the benefit of future generations.”
According to the release, completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions including financing, subdivision and tenure transfer approvals from the B.C. Ministry of Forests.
Western Forest Products and Qwoqwnes said they are working toward closing the transaction in 2026.
