Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Celebrates Launch of Mkwa Timber
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (formerly Pic River First Nation) launches new forestry company Mkwa Timber to supply Terrace Bay and White River Mills
PIC RIVER, ON – The Biigtigong Nishnaabeg celebrated the launch of a new forest enterprise aimed at supplying timber to local mills in Terrace Bay and White River with a Grand Opening Friday (Feb.5,2016). The company, Mkwa Timber, is wholly owned by the Pic River First Nation.
Company President, Byron LeClair said the launch has been a long awaited process.“For the past two years we’ve evaluated equipment supply options, negotiated access to timber, sale contracts with the mills, as well as invested heavily in the training of our members. We are pleased to celebrate today’s launch.”
In selecting its equipment supplier, Mkwa Timber’s evaluation criteria included cost, warranty, training and innovation.
The selection of Finnish based manufacturer Ponsse came as a surprise to some, however, LeClair was impressed with their proposal. “It seems an overly simple approach to evaluate suppliers strictly based on cost. The Ponsse group set themselves apart from other suppliers in providing the community with a comprehensive proposal, taking into account our need for training, ongoing support and a willingness to work with us throughout the launch.”
The Ponsse Ergo and Scorpion King are not widely known harvesters in the area, but LeClair is confident the new technology will prove itself in the Marathon area. “Most people said if you’re going to harvest, you need a feller buncher, grapple skidder, slasher, and delimber, but with the Ponsse processor and forwarder, we’ve reduced the amount of equipment needed to harvest, the number of operators required to operate the equipment, as well as reducing the amount of fuel required to operate the equipment. All in all, Ponsse will make our operation more efficient, safer for the employees, and reduce our environmental footprint.”
The company has hired 8 community members to operate and support the timber company. Employees have been learning to operate the state of the art equipment since the new year and are eager to prove themselves in their new role.
Newly hired operator Randal Courchene said “ We’re proud to be working for our community, and these are potential careers not just jobs.”
The opportunity launches new forestry company to prove themselves will come soon, as harvesting is scheduled to commence today, February 8th, with first loads of wood expected to reach Terrace Bay in early March. In total, LeClair estimates Mkwa Timber will supply 200,000 cubic meters of fibre annually to the Terrace Bay mill.
Chief Duncan Michano also expressed his support. “We are very pleased that our success in energy projects is supporting the creation of other opportunities like Mkwa Timber. This is just our first step back into forestry, our plans include a commercial fire wood operation, a small sawmill and a residential wood pellet plant.”
Representatives from Timmins based equipment supplier, ReadyQuip and Ponsse North America will be on hand to take part in the launch.
