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Timeline 1978-2008

1978

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) was asked by its member First Nations to address the declining employment of First Nations in the forest sector, and the damage poor logging practices were causing to fisheries and other resources.

1980

The fifteen Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations of the west coast of Vancouver Island reclaimed their traditional lands. The Canadian government accepted the land claim for negotiation.

1984

Tofino residents organized a boat blockade of Meares Island. The Tla-O-Qui-Aht and Ahousaht Nations declared the Island a Tribal Park.

1985

A court injunction was granted against logging on Meares Island pending treaty settlement.

1989

Clayoquot Sound Sustainable Development Task Force, was set up by the BC government to create a sustainable development strategy. The Task Force failed due to disagreements over interim logging and representation at the table.

1990

The BC government established the Clayoquot Sound Sustainable Development Strategy Steering Committee. Environment Groups walked out following a decision to approve interim logging.

1991

The BC government instructed the Commission on Resources and Environment (C.O.R.E.) to develop a comprehensive land use plan for Vancouver Island excluding Clayoquot Sound.

1993

Following the failure of the C.O.R.E. Steering Committee to reach full agreement on areas to be protected, the BC government announced the Clayoquot Land Use Decision.

Opposition to logging in Clayoquot Sound led to widespread civil disobedience and the arrests of over 800 people for blockading logging operations.

In reaction to the social controversy, the government of British Columbia introduced a new strategy to resolve the issues in Clayoquot Sound. A special panel of scientists and First Nations representatives were charged with the mandate of making recommendations on special forest practices appropriate to Clayoquot Sound.

1994 - April

Five Ha’wiih (Hereditary Chiefs) of the Nuu-chah-nulth presented their concerns about land use decisions that were being made in the Central Region without adequate consultation with the region’s indigenous people.

1994 - March

A historic two-year Interim Measures Agreement (IMA) between the provincial government and the five First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region, Ahousat, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht and Ucluelet, was signed.

The IMA acknowledged that the Ha’wiih of the First Nations have the responsibility to conserve and protect their traditional territories and waters for generations which will follow. Consequently, joint management of the Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territory’s lands and resources was granted until the completion of treaty negotiations.

The Central Region Board (CRB), a unique board with equal aboriginal and non-aboriginal membership, was created as a bridge to treaty. One responsibility of the CRB is to promote sustainability in Clayoquot Sound.

Meetings were held to discuss the possibility of a joint venture between MacMillan Bloedel and the five First Nations but little progress was made.

1995 - April

The Scientific Panel completed a series of groundbreaking reports that described how to manage the forests in Clayoquot Sound sustainably.

1996 - April

Because treaty negotiations were still in progress, an extension to the initial IMA was signed. This agreement is known as the Interim Measures Extension Agreement (IMEA). Schedule II of the IMEA committed MacMillan Bloedel and the First Nations in Clayoquot Sound to begin negotiations with the objective of forming a joint venture based on a shared commitment to achieving change.

1997 - April

Ma-Mook Natural Resources Limited was founded to represent the collective economic interests of the five Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations.

1998 - November

MacMillan Bloedel Limited and Ma-Mook Development Corporation signed a shareholders agreement detailing their partnership in the operation of a new company to operate in Clayoquot Sound. The new company was named Iisaak Natural Resources Ltd.. Iisaak (E-sock) means "respect" in the Nuu-chah-nulth language.

1999 - July

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Iisaak Natural Resources Ltd. and: Greenpeace Canada, Greenpeace International, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club of BC and Western Canada Wilderness Committee.

First Nations have shown steadfast resolve and active perseverance in their commitment to improve forest practices and to play a greater role in resource management in Clayoquot Sound. Now, over twenty years later, opportunities have arisen which put the goals of the Nuu-chah-nulth people and the local communities within reach.

2000

An extended Interim Measures Agreement is struck called the Clayoquot Sound Interim Measures Agreement that extends the Central Region Board and defines how First Nations and non-First Nations communities can participate in regional sustainable development.

2000

Establishment of Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that involve the collective efforts of central region tribes of the Nuu-chah-nulth, the Central Region Board, labor, local communities and environmental organizations. The Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve is an area where communities balance conservation with sustainable economies and social and cultural development and includes 350,000 hectares known as Clayoquot Sound.

2001 - July

Iisaak became the first Tree Farm License in British Columbia to be certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.

2003 - October

The first three official Clayoquot Sound Watershed Plans brought into effect, after being endorsed by the two parties of the Clayoquot Sound Interim Measures Extension Agreement (IMEA), the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Central Region Chiefs and the Province of British Columbia.

These plans covered the Flores, Cypre and Bedingfield watershed planning units, and were prepared by the Clayoquot Sound Technical Planning Committee (CSTPC), co-chaired by representatives from the Central Region First Nations and from the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (now Integrated Land Management Bureau).

2006 - July

The Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board announced, on behalf of the Parties to the IMEA, endorsement of another eight watershed plans. These plans apply to eight watershed planning units: Tofino-Tranquil (Onadsilth-Eelseuklis), Sydney-Pretty Girl, Bedwell-Ursus-Bulson, Hesquiaht, Kennedy Lake, Upper Kennedy River, Clayoquot River and Fortune Channel. With this announcement, the CSTPC has completed 11 official watershed plans, covering over 77 per cent of Clayoquot Sound.

The watershed plans were developed in accordance with the principles and recommendations set out by the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound. The plans will guide site-level forest planning and forest harvesting by identifying reserved areas, which are excluded from logging, and harvestable areas, where forestry operations will be implemented in accordance with the Science Panel's vision, goals and objectives for sustainable ecosystem management. Furthermore, the plans include special management areas, including culturally significant areas identified by First Nations, where practices will be subject to additional restrictions and conditions in order to safeguard sensitive values. Finally, the plans also specify the rate-of-cut limits that apply in pertinent watersheds and drainages in accordance with Science Panel recommendations, to ensure that watershed integrity is maintained.

2008 - July

Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd. Commemorates 10 years of environmentally responsible forest management by commissioning a Totem from Ahousaht Chief James Swan.