also support the community through job creation. Specifically, Domtar has helped MTE achieve a certifica- tion under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) program, along with its Chain-of-Custody handling of wood products. FSC certification ensures that forests are well managed, habitats are protected and local com- munities’ rights are respected. This partnership is evidence of a strong two-way relationship that benefits both the local tribe and workers in Domtar’s mills. Domtar strives to work with First Nation communities to build rela- tionships that address issues and concerns about the forest also. Domtar’s Forest Policy states as one of its priorities to work with aboriginals and making it a priority to develop and maintain working relationships in forest management and wood fiber processing where we share common public lands with aboriginal communities. This leads to many mutually beneficial business arrangements and a variety of com- munity relations activities. Examples include First Nations busi- nesses who work in partnership with the Domtar mill in Dryden to provide fiber to the facility and build harvest access roads. Although Domtar’s track record of these relationships and meetings is assessed as part of the requirements for independent third party forest cer- tification, Domtar believes that ongoing workwith our First Nations communities is integral as part of the ongoing day to day business of the past, the present and the future. As the saying goes, “It takes a village,” which is why Domtar encour- ages its suppliers to develop and maintain working relationships with indigenous and other local commu- nities to help ensure the benefits of their operations remain in these com- munities. This collaborative, integrat- ed approach creates long-term value for not only Domtar and its partners, but for the local communities, as well, where forestry operations drive jobs and economic growth.
By Jamie Barrie W e see the news headlines all the time about Climate change, defores- tation and global warming. However, news coverage and analysis pri- marily tend to focus on the technical aspects of these key issues, rather than detailing any human implications. For example, it is reported that defores- tation is responsible for driving 17 percent of global carbon emissions, but what direct impact is it having on the 300 million people who call forests home? As part of its Sustainable Forestry Principles, Domtar is committed to working closely with local indigenous communities. These communities make up nearly 50 percent of those 300 million residents who call the forest their home to ensure the forests remain for generations to come. The Sustainable Forestry Principles are an integral component of EarthChoice, Domtar’s broader sustainability platform which embodies the company’s commitment to full circle responsibility. These principles ultimately govern Domtar’s fiber procurement processes by requiring transparency, collabora- tion and accountability in all of their transactions. A guiding principle of the Sustainable Forestry Principles is to respect the culture and rights of indigenous people. To accomplish this, Domtar’s strategy is twofold: maintain collaborative relationships with aboriginal communities and encourage suppliers to do the same. Domtar is committed to working with its neighbors in these woodland com- munities, like the Menominee Indian Tribe which has resided in the area now known as Wisconsin for over 10,000 years, depending on the land for their survival. Domtar has roots in the community as well, operating two mill facilities in the northern part of the state that trace their histories back over a hundred years. Respecting this rich history and culture, both Domtar’s Rothschild and Nekoosa, Wisconsin, mills work hand-in-hand with Menominee Tribal Enter- prises (MTE), the business arm of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, to ensure mutually beneficial operations in this shared landscape.
As a major wood supplier to Domtar, the company has worked with MTE to not only protect the forest land in the area, upon which they both depend, but
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SEPTEMBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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