Lana Wilhelm honored with Women in Forestry Award for Indigenous Relations leadership

On September 18, Lana Wilhelm, director of Indigenous Relations for the Paper Excellence Group, was honored with the Women in Forestry Award of Excellence by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). The award highlighted her contributions to the forest industry, recognizing leadership, innovation, and commitment. In an interview, Wilhelm shared insights into her journey and the significance of this recognition.

A CAREER ROOTED IN FORESTRY

Wilhelm’s journey in forestry began in her early twenties when she worked as a tree planter in remote areas of Western Canada. “I found my passion for forestry in remote cut blocks out West, when I started tree planting in my early twenties. That became a love once I worked in soil and ecology research and then in land use planning on Haida Gwaii”, she recalled. Her experience with coastal First Nations shaped her approach. “Learning from coastal First Nations cultural values on the ground fired me up with this vision of how I wanted to be part of a forest industry that worked together”, Wilhelm explained, adding that this fusion of Indigenous culture and Western science continues to inform her work today.

RECOGNITION FROM PEERS AND MENTORS

Receiving the Women in Forestry Award of Excellence holds deep personal meaning for Wilhelm. “The significance of being recognized by your mentors and peers within the forest industry genuinely hits home with me. I’ve been part of Canada’s forest industry for close to thirty years and I’m so proud of what the industry continues to achieve. To be recognized by this group is powerful and impactful”, she said.

INDIGENOUS RELATIONS: A CORNERSTONE OF HER WORK

Wilhelm emphasized the importance of Indigenous Relations within the forest industry, noting that it extends beyond moral responsibility: “To see beyond the idea that it’s the right thing to do from a moral or risk management standpoint is what is important here. Companies can leverage the deep knowledge and unique skillsets Indigenous people bring to the table in sophisticated partnerships”, she said. She added that long-term sustainable employment and procurement policies are key to any Indigenous Relations program, benefiting both the sector and Indigenous communities.

PROUD ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Reflecting on her career, Wilhelm pointed to two standout projects. Early on, she collaborated with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers to integrate their values into forest planning: “I faced enormous pushback from the licensees of the day, and it definitely impacted my career options at that time. But standing with conviction beside elders will always make me proud”, she said. More recently, she played a pivotal role in developing an Indigenous Relations program at Paper Excellence Group, describing it as a rewarding team effort.

 

LEADING INDIGENOUS RELATIONS

Currently, Wilhelm chairs the Integrated Indigenous Relations Steering Committee, a role that has broadened her perspective on the industry. “Chairing the new Integrated Indigenous Relations Steering Committee has made me really appreciate the resilience and care demonstrated by my colleagues across the Canadian forest industry”, she said. Despite regional differences, Wilhelm observed that common themes emerge, and the industry consistently strives to set high standards.

She acknowledged that the industry faces significant challenges, including Indigenous reconciliation, species at risk, and old growth management: “We’re facing so many challenges head on, even though the conversations can be slow and complicated. That takes a lot of courage”.

RECONCILIATION IN ACTION

A powerful moment for Wilhelm came when she witnessed mill employees participate in cultural training with Indigenous experts. “Watching hourly mill employees doing blanket exercises with Indigenous cultural experts was pretty damn powerful”, she said. This experience demonstrated to her the desire within the forest industry to engage with the principles of truth and reconciliation and take responsibility for understanding the history of colonization.

A MESSAGE FOR FUTURE FORESTERS

For those considering a career in forestry, particularly with a focus on Indigenous Relations, Wilhelm highlighted the opportunities to challenge existing policies and create a more socially and environmentally conscious industry: “There’s enormous opportunity to challenge the policy of what good forestry is through both a social and an environmental lens”, she said.

Wilhelm also emphasized the diverse career paths the forestry industry offers: “You might start off in a part of forestry that is quite technical and find yourself having a ton of opportunities that you might never have anticipated. I was a tree planter, then a soil and ecology researcher, and then I designed cut blocks and protected cultural value areas as part of a First Nations 1000-year cedar strategy”, she shared. Ultimately, Wilhelm believes the possibilities in forestry are vast, limited only by one’s imagination.