Heritage & Natural Resources
Heritage & Natural Resources
OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT
The purpose of the Heritage and Natural Resource Department (HNRD) is to:
- exercise stewardship of Haida lands and natural resources on behalf of the Haida Nation;
- implement government to government agreements as directed by the Reconciliation Table;
- implement House of Assembly Resolutions under the direction of the Heritage and Natural Resource Committee
To carry out the above activities the HNRD provides an umbrella for:
- forest stewardship monitoring, cultural feature identification (CFI) and CFI survey audits, and forest research and analysis projects;
- mapping services;
- administration of resource development applications and referrals (via Solutions Table) and technical and administrative support to decision-makers;
- environmental assessment, enforcement, and policy initiatives, and
- archaeological monitoring services.
CFI STANDARDS MANUAL
The standards for identification of Cultural Features have been developed as a result of the Strategic Land Use Agreement (SLUA) and the subsequent Haida Gwaii Land Use Objectives Order (HGLUOO). These two documents outline a series of objectives and required practices that form the basis for Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) on Haida Gwaii. The cultural sections of the HGLUOO prescribe a series of forest management requirements, including Cultural Feature Identification surveys, to maintain and protect Haida Cultural Features that are most affected by logging.
Cultural Feature Identification certification is awarded by the Council of the Haida Nation based on competency, as proven through testing.
DOCUMENTS
The Cultural Feature Identification Standards Manual V.5 represents an amended version based on almost a year of consultation and technical review. Consultation occurred through community seminars held in both Skidegate and Old Masset, certified CFI surveyor input and meetings with the Hereditary Chiefs Council.
The amended Cultural Feature Identification Standards Manual V.5 will take effect January 1, 2020. All CFI Reports received prior to this date will fall under the CFI Manual v.4; CFI reports submitted on January 1, 2020 or later must meet the requirements of CFI Manual v.5.