Canada's forests have long played an integral role in meeting the cultural, spiritual and material needs of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Encouraging more Aboriginal involvement in the forest sector benefits Canada's sustainable forest management and helps to build strong Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal and treaty rights are protected by Canada's constitution, and this is reflected in forest policy and forest management practices. Aboriginal involvement in the land is being formally acknowledged through processes that include land claims, treaty making and treaty land entitlement.

Almost 80 percent of Aboriginal peoples in Canada live in forested regions, and their participation in forestry is growing. There are more opportunities for employment, contracting and business development, and forest companies are entering into a variety of partnerships with Aboriginal development corporations.

More than 800 Aboriginal communities are located in Canada's productive forests, and about 1.4 million hectares of Aboriginal reserve lands are suitable for resource uses such as forestry, hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering herbs and medicinal plants.

Canada's National Forest Strategy includes actions related to the rights and participation of Aboriginal peoples.

Provincial and territorial governments across Canada are encouraging partnerships with Aboriginal communities while continuing to watch for more ways to help Aboriginal peoples improve their economic and social well-being. Canada's federal government also conducts initiatives and programs to help Aboriginal peoples increase their involvement in the forest sector.

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