Nuu-chah-nulth members are training for careers in the forest industry through a partnership between the Nuu-chah-nulth Education and Training Program, Interfor and Western Forest Products.
Ha-Shilth-Sa visited a training session at McLean Mill on Oct. 28. One group of students practiced their skills with chainsaws while, at the Mill Pond, a second group learned fire suppression skills.
Richard Butler is a chainsaw instructor with RIT (Required Industry Training) Consulting. While there are a number of certification programs geared towards different industries, he explained, forest companies are looking for the B.C. Forest Safety Council certification.
Butler said while there are a number of steps to becoming a certified faller, these students, on completion, will be qualified to operate a chainsaw in the woods, working with fallen timber.
“After this, they’ll have their Bucking ticket,” he explained. “They are only permitted to fell trees up to six inches, so I do teach the basics about how to do it safely and how to identify the hazards.”
As part of the training, the students also learn how to maintain and service chainsaws, which includes sharpening saw chains.
On Tuesday, while Jonathan Thompson of Ucluelet First Nation practiced cutting rounds off a large cedar log donated by ER Probyn, Dion Knighton of Ditidaht and Walker Charleson of Hesquiaht painstakingly filed saw chains, using a small hand-held guide to achieve the exact cutting angle.
Duane Nookemus of Huu-ay-aht said he has been cutting shake blocks for the past five years, but he wants to find full-time work. For that, he needs certified training.
“I just want to get into forestry, and in forestry now, you need to know how to fight fires,” he said.
While the chainsaw training hasn’t yielded any major surprises, Nookemus said he plans to change some of his self-taught practices.
“There’s a couple of old habits I have to break,” he said.
One of those habits has been placing himself in front of the log during the cut, he explained. The proper method is to stand to the side to avoid injury in the event of the saw blade “bucking back.”
Nathan Read of Hupacasath said his long-term goal is to become a certified faller.
“I have a bit of chainsaw experience, but everything needs certification,” he said.
Read said he also has to unlearn some acquired habits he picked up over the years.
“The old guys always said, ‘Don’t do what I do.’”
Fire suppression instructor Blake Harkness said his course provides both S100 Basic Wildland Firefighting and S185 Fire Trap/Entrapment Avoidance certification.
“This course is designed for contract crews or industry (i.e. WFP) and for people who want to get on with the Ministry of Forests on a fire crew or on a contract crew,” Harkness said.
While having fire suppression certification increases the employability of a working logger, the training does provide standalone employment opportunities, he explained.
“This can be a gateway to becoming a MoF firefighter. It’s something to look at on the resume.”
Thanks to the extended heat and drought of Summer 2014, there was increased demand for contract firefighters. At various times, B.C. even brought in out-of-province crews, and, at the height of fire season, from out of the country.
Jason Bolton is a member of Tsimshian First Nation who grew up in Bamfield with Huu-ay-aht.
“I don’t have any experience in forestry and I’m looking for full-time work. I’m looking to put some more skills under my belt,” he said. “I’ve been working the past 15 years as a full-time fishing guide.”
Bolton said learning fire suppression techniques, even in the pouring rain, has been an eye-opener, and he would consider pursuing it full-time. On the other hand, he said he is familiar with chainsaws.
“I grew up on the West Coast, so I’m used to cutting firewood.”
Kevin Hunter is a forestry contractor for Western Forest Products, and is also well known for his involvement with the Industrial Heritage Society, which operates McLean Mill and the Alberni Pacific Railway.
Hunter said McLean Mill was a logical site for the NETP training initiative.
“WFP is committed to training and bridging people into the forest industry,” Hunter said. “First Nations are providing the training and we assist them with the training.
“Rob Oldale of NETP approached Kevin Sommerville, manager of Port Alberni forest operations for WFP, about sponsoring a chainsaw course in the woods somewhere. Kevin immediately said yes, then approached me and asked ‘Where can we do this?’”
Hunter said after considering the logistics of getting eight students out into the bush for training, it was determined that McLean Mill provided a good training ground for both the chainsaw and fire suppression training, and has plenty of logs on site.
“It was prefect,” he said. “There is a lot of pulpwood to be cut in 18-inch lengths and burned in the steam donkey demonstrations, so that works out well.”
And locally-based Probyn has provided a stack of large-diameter logs for various uses. Many of those logs will be cut to spec by the students for future city projects, Hunter said.
McLean Mill also has classroom space, he added. The chainsaw program includes one day of classroom instruction on site, plus two days with the saws. The fire suppression course work is done at NETP, he said.
Hunter said forest companies are looking for new workers.
“On the first set of the chainsaw course, we had eight people graduate – certified – and the very next day, three out of the eight were hired by Davey Tree Services. Several of those hires are here this week to complete the fire suppression training.”
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Vice-President Ken Watts said the program provides opportunities for well-paying jobs for young Nuu-chah-nulth-aht.
“The NTC is happy to see our people receiving training which will empower them to be involved in an industry which is looking to our young people, as they are the fastest growing segment of the population,” Watts said.
“It is important for industry and businesses within Nuu-chah-nulth Ha’wiih Hahoulthee to continue to collaborate and work with not only our Nations, but programs and services that help empower and educate our people so that they can be active members in industries.”
