Who we are

Developing innovative approaches to natural resource conservation and management that combines First Nations’ traditional and western scientific approaches to understanding the natural world, is what makes John Prince Research Forest special.

The partners work together collaboratively to identify research and management priorities that address concerns for the territories. We use new information from this process to incorporate multiple values into our forest management approaches.

Governance

Our Board of Directors

Beverly John Co-Chair

Tl’azt’en Nation

Mark Barnes Co-Chair

University of Northern British Columbia

Johnny Tom - Keyoh Representative

Binche Whut’en

Che Elkin

University of Northern British Columbia

Carl Pollard

College of New Caledonia

Chris Johnson

University of Northern British Columbia

Corbin Tom

Binche Whut’en

Pete Erikson

Nak’azdli Whut’en

The management of the John Prince Research Forest is overseen by a registered charity, Chuzghun Resources Corporation (CRC), that holds the forest tenure for John Prince Research Forest. The CRC board of director representatives are appointed by our Indigenous partners (Tl’azt’en Nation and Binche Whut’en) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

The respective Councils of Tl’azt’en Nation and Binche Whut’en appoint their representatives while reserving one position for the Keyoh Holders and one representative for Nak’azdli Whut’en. The latter appointment is in recognition that the JPRF falls within an overlap area that was traditionally used by both Tl’azt’en, Binche and Nak’azdli Nations.

UNBC appoints their representatives from among their administration and faculty personnel. One of the UNBC appointments has traditionally been from outside the University community and is generally an individual within the forest industry or local government.

The Board of Directors are responsible for the overall direction of the research, education and operations of the JPRF and its fiscal stability.

Keyoh Holders

Keyoh holders are the traditional land stewards in the Dakelth tradition and are charged with the care of their family’s Keyoh or territory. The majority of JPRF falls within the Keyoh of the Tom family from Binche Whut’en. Members of the Tom family have a shared benefit agreement with JPRF, and are involved with numerous research and education activities.

Who is John Prince?

John Prince was the Chief and Band Manager of the T'l’azt’en Nation from 1991 to 1997. He was instrumental in negotiating the terms of partenership agreement for the research forest on behalf of T'l’azt’en Nation during it’s inception. John tragically died in a boating accident during the spring of 1997. The Board of Directors chose to name the research forest in memory of him.