On May 17, 2023, the Golden Area Community Forest Team held an Open House to present the Kenpesq’t Community Forest Initiative. It was fantastic to see so many community members in attendance and it provided great input to developing a community forest. We look forward to further engagement opportunities with the community. Please don’t forget to fill out the survey link found above.
Communities collaborating for shared benefit
Image by Andrew Chad - Tourism Golden
Golden & Area Community Forest Team (GACFT)
Three communities of the Golden area, including the Shuswap Band, the Town of Golden and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (Area A) are collaborating to develop a new community forest tenure in the area surrounding Golden, BC within the Shuswap Band’s traditional territory. This process is being driven by the Golden & Area Community Forest Team (GACFT), which includes representatives of all three communities participating in the process to establish a new community forest around Golden.
The joint tenure proposed between the three communities will be known as the Kenpesq’t Community Forest. Kenpesq’t is the name for the Shuswap Band in Secwepemctsin, the traditional Shuswap Language. The Shuswap Band has lived in the area around Golden and the Columbia Valley since time immemorial , and this community forest initiative in the Golden area would not be possible without their support. The use of this name respects the Indigenous Rights and Title held by the Shuswap Band across Secwepemc'ulew. It is an honour for this collaborative effort around a community forest in the Golden area to take on this name.