Stswecem’c Xget’tem Forest Gathering and Tending

Project Title: Stswecem’c Xget’tem Forest Gathering & Tending

Recipient:  Stswecem’c Xget’tem Development Corporation (SXDC)

Region: Cariboo

Awarded Amount: $12,409

Project Period: 2025

Description: In recent decades, Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation (SXFN) members have lost access to gathering sites for foods and medicines near community due to forest ingress and encroachment. Members are currently travelling upwards of two hours to gather. This grant will support spatial data analysis, training, cursory data collection and community engagement on the location, health and productivity of forest food and medicine plants in the Territory’s forests. The project team hopes to support SXDC/SXFN staff learning on this important issue, and identify future opportunities for intensive projects (e.g., juvenile/commercial thinning), the development of best practices and long-term data collection (e.g., silviculture surveys).