The Manitoba provincial government signed an agreement with three First Nations, Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and Minegoziibe Anishinabe, known as Pine Creek First Nation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) extends Louisiana Pacific’s operating licence by five years, which allows all parties to work together to create a sustainable 20-year Forest Management Plan that addresses everyone’s needs.
The agreement ensures that the First Nations’ level of government will be directly involved in Manitoba’s Forestry Management Plans for the first time and will continue into the future. This allows First Nation communities to protect traditional lands and treaty rights. It’s been hailed as a precedent-setting agreement in terms of reconciliation.
First Nation Chiefs spoke about how this has been a long-standing issue and how it impacts them and their communities.
“Today marks the first time that the Manitoba government has agreed to move forward collaboratively with First Nations in this province to support immediate and long-term measures to protect treaty rights in commercial forestry licensing agreements,” said WSFN Chief Elwood Zastre. “It further shows a willingness to engage in joint decision-making about forest stewardship in our traditional homelands. We see this as the beginning of a hopeful new relationship with the Manitoba government which supports the exercise of our treaty rights and aims to achieve a sustainable forest over the long term for future generations.
“For more than a decade, we’ve been raising concerns about Manitoba’s failure to consider the protection of our treaty rights and fair resource sharing when making decisions about Louisiana Pacific’s ability to cut trees from our ancestorial lands. For many years we were shut out of the conversations, which had a direct impact on our territories.
“Since 2006, Manitoba allowed LP to operate in the territories without approval from the forest management plan, contrary to what is in Manitoba’s licencing process. The draft produced by LP in 2019 and submitted to Manitoba, was reviewed by experts retained by First Nations. Our experts found that the Forestry Management Plan was significantly flawed and couldn’t be relied upon to assess risks and address factors of forest sustainability.
“Of great importance to WSFN, Manitoba commits to this agreement to protect and preserve culturally significant areas as identified by the First Nations including the Kettle Hills area that was identified by our Elder Buddy Brass. Buddy Brass was an elder in our community for many years and he cared about our lands. He spoke of how we have to protect the land and animals because the land can’t speak for themselves. He was always there to help guide us in a good way.
“The Kettle Hills is a beautiful untouched area which is critical to WSFN and other First Nations as a place to exercise our rights, gather and harvest. The Kettle Hills is one of the best places to get blueberries and we have to protect things like that. We are proud that after many years of advocacy the Kettle Hills area will be given the protection it deserves, and Buddy will be happy.”
“150 years has come and gone for Treaty 4, with outstanding promises left aside and we’re still battling,” said Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Chief Nelson Genaille. “This is only one fight that is being acknowledged right now. Going to court is a waste of time. I acknowledge our lawyers and legal team for putting up a good fight, listening to us, and penning the paper of what we needed to do; without them, we wouldn’t be here. We would still be spinning in circles trying to find a way to move forward.
“The court system is not our court system. Our court system is the pipe we used to open the signing of this agreement. That sets truth and reconciliation. It took a while for this pipe to start smoking because we need that within ourselves, for it sees right through us. We need to do that more often because it doesn’t happen today, but it’s supposed to happen tomorrow and the next day after that. So, when working together, let’s achieve things that we need to do.”
The Province has acted as the mediator in this situation to bring both parties to an agreement. It helps to ensure both needs of each party are being met, with the First Nations communities having a fair seat at the table and input to protect their traditional lands, and then LP to be able to become a strong industry providing jobs and helping the economy to grow in the Valley and Manitoba.
“For me, this is all about ensuring that there is long-term security and predictability for people who work at LP,” said Premier Wab Kinew. “There is a path forward here that shows how we’re going to protect jobs in the resource sector and it’s by having a good relationship with Indigenous nations and taking the environmental concerns seriously. The thing I’m always keeping at the top of my mind is when I visited the LP plant in Swan River and I noted how the workers took pride in the work they do there. Some of them are multigenerational families working there, and some of the plant workers are First Nations and Metis, and from other areas like Ukraine as well. At the end of the day, they just want to have a good job, a paycheck and be proud of the work they do.
“I understand there have been ups and downs, and concerns with what is going to happen with the long-term plans for LP. What we’re doing as the provincial government is bringing predictability and reducing the risk. As a government, we’re going to do some heavy lifting in terms of sharing resources and decision-making with the Indigenous Nations, but when it comes to LP’s operations, things are going to move forward in a good way and people will be able to go to work and earn a good paycheque.
“I’m optimistic that this could move us forward through this initial five-year period to a 20-year licence extension after that, and hopefully in other forestry regions, mining projects, Manitoba Hydro projects, wherever that is, we can make sure that union workers, people who work in hard hats and hi-visibility gear can have stable good jobs in the long term,” said Premier Kinew. “For us on the government side, it’s about us taking care of business and making sure we have good respectful relationships with the First Nations communities and making sure there’s a healthy clean environment.”
In a statement from LP, “Responsible forest management is at the core of our business model, ensuring the long-term health of forests, the well-being of nearby communities, and the livelihood of our 235 local team members and approximately 400 local contract loggers and haulers. Since opening LP Swan Valley in 1996, we have sustainably sourced 100 percent of our harvested fibre, adhering to the stringent standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Collaboration with Indigenous communities and the provincial government on sustainable forest management is a key part of this work, and we remain committed to this partnership.”

The long-lasting memory of Amara Campbell has created a ripple effect that has touched the Swan Valley and created a movement to help fight cancer. The creation of Amara’s Amigos, a group of dedicated volunteers who help raise funds in the fight against cancer, was formed five years ago and has grown in many ways.
“The creation of the first Amara’s Amigos group was a very special symbol of support for Amara, Joel, Blair and me,” said Amara’s mother Lee-Anne Campbell. “Amara was a quiet, 13-year-old, who preferred not to have much attention on herself. Her cancer diagnosis took away her ability to blend in with the crowd.
“Our son Joel was 15 years old at the time. His sister’s cancer diagnosis was very tough on him as well. The shirts, events, and donations gave Amara a place to find comfort in her new identity. Also, a new type of identity for our family, I suppose. The love and support that continues to be shown for Amara’s Amigos is humbling and heart-warming for all of us.
“The Amara’s Amigos group, name and first shirts were created by Amara’s Minitonas school friends and teachers in 2019, following her cancer diagnosis,” said Campbell. “This first amazing team supported Amara by participating in the 2019 Swan River Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. The team name and colours were perfect, so it has remained.
“We decided to continue to raise awareness about childhood cancer and fundraise in memory of Amara. The first Amara’s Amigos Garage Sale was a success, so it has continued as an annual event. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, as well as the month in which Amara passed away, so it has been meaningful to host the garage sale during that month.
“Then, in 2021, I approached the Stampeders to support Cameron Coulthart, a local 17-year-old boy who was fighting cancer,” said Campbell. “Cameron had spent some time with the team earlier that season before he had a big surgery. We did a small event collecting money for him, shared a brief update on his cancer, and his sister dropped the puck. In the 2023/24 season, was the first year that we bought Hockey Fights Cancer team jerseys. This event has just completed its third year.”
Over the years, Amara’s Amigos has raised money for the fight against cancer in many ways. It sparked a much bigger movement in the Valley, with more people and organizations getting involved by creating new fundraisers and helping the existing ones to raise more money than in years prior.
“The money collected from the garage sales, Ride Inside events, lemonade stand, cookie sales and the Hockey Fights Cancer event with the Swan Valley Stampeders is entirely donated to the CancerCare MB Foundation (CCMB), PROFYLE Program,” said Campbell. “The name stands for PRecision Oncology For Young peopLE, those living with rare and hard-to-treat cancers. The program provides genetic testing for these kids, searching for alternative treatment options. Amara’s oncologists were able to access PROFYLE for her treatment plan. She was able to take some additional oral chemotherapy that we think allowed her more months of life.
“Amara’s Amigos have also participated in the annual Swan River Terry Fox Runs since 2019.
“The newest fundraising event started in 2024, the annual Minitonas School Memorial Lunch Fundraiser for PAC improvements for their school,” said Campbell. “This event is in memory of both Amara and Joel.
“Our core group of Amara’s Amigos has remained pretty similar in size. These family members and friends continue to jump into action to assist Blair and me with the events. However, we also recognize our much wider group of Amara’s Amigos as every person and business that has supported us. It’s very special to continue seeing more purple shirts/hoodies, with the addition of a blue heart for Joel, around town, as we partnered with the Stampeders hockey team in 2023.”
At this past Amara’s Amigos Garage Sale Fundraiser, the group not only received a lot of donations to put towards the sale, but also raised slightly more in funds than the year prior.
“A total of $5,810 was raised at the 2025 garage sale,” said Campbell. “A bit higher than last year. The garage sales have been successful in various ways. We have provided a venue for our items to be repurposed by others, offering an opportunity for a wider variety of people to contribute to our fundraising, even if it was only an extra $2 they could afford. Each year, I have been pleasantly surprised at how many people stop in at the garage sale simply to drop off their annual donation cheque for CCMB. It has also developed into an opportunity to connect with community members who still support us as we live in grief.”
The total funds raised from the Hockey Fights Cancer event have not been totalled yet; however, the money raised from both this event and the garage sale will be presented to CCMBF at the Winnipeg Jets HFC game on November 23.
“The community support from the Swan River Valley has amazed us since 2019, right from the time of Amara’s cancer diagnosis,” said Campbell. “Blair and I have been humbled by the outpouring of support.

A new movement created to help children who are removed from their homes due to crisis circumstances such as abuse, neglect and other factors, has established a chapter in the Valley. Bags of Love is a charitable organization that provides the Department of Family Services with bags filled with items a child would benefit from having when being transitioned to a new living arrangement.
The Canadian Program was started in Alberta in 2009 and is making its way across Canada, and now here in the Valley.
“We recognize that certain children, upon being displaced from their normal or perhaps abnormal home life due to domestic violence and or drug or alcohol abuse, are left with nothing, not even their favourite toy or blanket,” said Bags of Love Volunteer Linda McCullough. “It is our intent that working through the Department of Families, to provide to each of these children, from newborn to age 17, a Bag of Love with age and gender appropriate items for their care and their enjoyment that they can truly call their very own.
“We believe that this small token of love and affection will go far toward helping these children adjust to a foster or adoptive home, whether temporary or permanent. We pray that these children will long cherish their Bag of Love and endeavour to remember other children who might be subjected to the same plight in their growing years.
“When given their very own Bag of Love, it can give them a sense of security, comfort and care to support their emotional and physical wellbeing,” said McCullough.
“While attending a Women’s Retreat in May of this year, Pauline Rogers from North Battleford, SK, spoke on this project that has been moving across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We were impressed to start a chapter in Swan River, as we believe there is a need in our community and we want to make a difference in a child’s life.
“We officially became a chapter in September and have delivered eight Bags of Love to the Department of Families,” said McCullough. “We plan on delivering more in the near future.”
Items that are new or gently used can be donated to go into the Bags of Love.
“Items suitable for donation could be a handmade quilt/blanket, stuffed toys, dolls, new toys and games or clean and like new condition, school supplies, books, coloring books, journals for older children, flashlights, nightlights, hygiene products such as shampoo, body wash or bar soap, deodorant, sanitary napkins, dental hygiene products, combs/brushes, hair accessories, Kleenex, socks etc.,” said McCullough. “Also, baby items such as diapers, bottles, pacifiers, baby shampoo, lotion, powder, blankets, knitted hats, toys, stuffies, etc.”
The Swan River chapter for Bags of Love is also looking for volunteers to either help put the bags together or to make handmade items to go into them. 
“It takes a village to raise a child, and it also takes a community to make a project for children work,” said McCullough. “It relies on volunteers of all ages and walks of life to meet the needs of displaced children by donating the above items as mentioned.
“If you sew or knit, we can use homemade quilts, baby blankets, bibs, pencil cases or makeup bags, hats, mittens and scarves. Please contact me or Donna Leming.
“We are a nonprofit organization and will be operating through the Swan River Seventh-day Adventist Church. If someone wishes to make a monetary donation, please make cheques payable to the Swan River Seventh-day Adventist Church and mark ‘Bags of Love’ and a receipt will be issued. Please contact me at 204-281-0483 or Donna Leming at 204-731-4553 if you have any questions or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”