THUNDER BAY -- A year of discussions have culminated in a Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) company becoming a "significant" fibre supplier to the AV Birla Terrace Bay Mill.
Mkwa Timber will harvest wood from the Pic River Forest and transport it to the mill for processing.
The company took possession of new Ponsee harvesting equipment in January and the band-owned company is ready to harvest wood from its traditional land by winter's end.
Mkwa intends to grow its workforce and Biigitong's local economy through contracts with mills in the area.
"We are very supportive of their business development initiatives and their objectives of skills training, capacity building and creating direct employment for community members, all within their traditional territory," said AV Terrace Bay CEO Giovanni Iadeluca.
"It is great to see new investment and new harvest capacity in the forests we rely on. We are looking forward to building a long-term relationship with Mkwa Timber."
