Public Involvement
Mistik has several existing advisory/co-management boards that provide ongoing input into operational and strategic plans. Mistik also has significant communication with a range of other stakeholder groups and individuals (outfitters, trappers, traditional use, grazing permittees, wild rice growers, cabin owners, etc.) in and immediately surrounding the Mistik Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area.
In October 2004, Mistik facilitated the formation of a single Public Advisory Group (PAG) with representation from all major stakeholder groups associated with, or who have an interest in, the Mistik FMA area. The list below identifies the current composition of the Public Advisory Group which meets annually each spring and fall. Representatives from the PAG also sit on Mistik’s 20-year Forest Management Plan (FMP) development/implementation team and are an important part of the FMP process.
On an annual basis, as part of the operating plan development, Mistik consults with multiple forest users (First Nations, trappers, outfitters, etc.) who have interest in areas which have been identified for harvest in the upcoming year.
| Stakeholder Group | Stakeholder Group Description |
|---|---|
| Advisory/Co-management Boards | Local community-based groups representing a broad spectrum of stakeholder interests including cabin owners, recreational users, environmental groups, outfitters, trappers, elders, contractors, local gov’t. officials, wild rice growers, municipalities and traditional resource users:
|
| Trapping | Zone 8 trappers – northern trappers are represented on each of the co-management boards. |
| Outfitting | A large, loosely organized group (Saskatchewan Outfitters Association), with significant interest in the provincial forests of Saskatchewan, has a designated ‘forestry’ representative. |
| Commercial Fishing | There are a number of commercial fishing co-operatives within the Mistik FMA area. Commercial fishing is a significant economic activity in the local area. |
| Small Volume Timber Harvesters (Ministry of Energy is the main contact) | Some representation on advisory boards but no official or organized representative body. |
| Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Employees | All clerical, technical, management, and operations staff at Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp. |
| NorSask Management Staff | All clerical and management staff at the NorSask Forest Products sawmill. |
| NorSask Unionized Staff | All mill workers at the NorSask Forest Products sawmill. |
| Meadow Lake Tribal Council | Represents the leadership of nine of the First Nations in northwest Saskatchewan (in and around the Mistik FMA Area). |
| Regulatory Agency | Represents the local regulatory (provincial government) agencies responsible for administrating forestry and other activities on behalf of the Province of Saskatchewan. |
| Urban Municipality | Meadow Lake is the primary service center in northwest Saskatchewan and is home to most of the employees of Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp, NorSask Forest Products, and Mistik Management Ltd. |
| Rural Municipality | The Rural Municipality (RM) of Meadow Lake #588 has some overlap with the Mistik FMA area (Divide and Beaver River MUs) as do the adjacent RMs of Beaver River #622, Loon Lake #561 and Mervin #499. |
| Environmental Non-governmental Organizations | Represent the interests of the hunting, fishing, and trapping public, as well as environmental sustainability issues – habitat protection, conservation, and environmental quality enhancement. |
| Snowmobile Association (recreation) | The Northern Lights Snowmobile Club has an extensive network of trails throughout portions of the Mistik FMA Area. |
| Grazing Permittees | Portions of the Mistik FMA Area are allocated to individuals that are granted grazing permits by the Ministry of Environment. |
| Forest Workers | Mistik undertakes its activities through a significant number of local contractors. |
| Interested Communities | Mistik will extend a general invitation to all communities within and adjacent to the Mistik FMA area in northwest Saskatchewan to participate in the 20-Year FMP process. Several communities have expressed their interest in participating. Mistik has chosen to involve the representatives from these communities in the Public Advisory Group. |
For further information about Mistik Management Ltd. and its environmental and sustainable forest management program please contact Mistik. If you are interested in participating in Mistik’s planning process, please contact Mistik’s Planning Manager at 306-236-4431 for information regarding the next Public Advisory Group meeting.