July 2, 2025
SASKATCHEWAN — The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) and Tolko Industries Ltd. (Tolko) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a Lumber for Nations Program.
The Lumber for Nations Program aims to support building projects in the Indigenous communities represented by MLTC. It provides both purchasing opportunities and product donations to help community-supported projects come to life. The MOU was signed for an initial period of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties.
“MLTC is pleased to collaborate with Tolko in providing additional direct benefits of finished wood products, from our lumber and OSB mills, for use by MLTC’s First Nation communities,” says Tribal Chief Jeremy Norman. “I applaud the leadership of Tolko in taking this step with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.”
This agreement builds on a previous MOU signed in October 2024 that established a framework to assist the parties in advancing matters of mutual interest in areas of forestry activities, business development, procurement, employment and training.
“Tolko is committed to supporting and enabling the communities where we operate through partnerships built on shared values, mutual trust and respect,” says Pino Pucci, Tolko’s President and CEO. “I’m proud to see our MLTC partnership grow and humbled to have had the honour to sign this progressive agreement on Tolko’s behalf.”
“It’s meaningful to see how far this partnership has come in just a year,” says Janis Simpkins, Tolko’s Vice-President of Indigenous & Government Relations and Sustainability. “The Lumber for Nations Program shows what’s possible when we work together with purpose. It’s not just about providing materials, it’s about building relationships and supporting the strength and well-being of Indigenous communities across our shared landscape.”
About Meadow Lake Tribal Council
The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC), officially established in 1996 after forming as the Meadow Lake District Chiefs Joint Venture in 1981, represents a unified alliance of nine First Nations in northwest Saskatchewan. Comprising five Cree and four Dene Nations — Birch Narrows, Buffalo River, Canoe Lake, Clearwater River, English River, Flying Dust, Makwa Sahgaiehcan, Ministikwan Lake, and Waterhen Lake — MLTC advocates for its member Nations while delivering second-level programs and services in areas such as health, education, justice, and economic development. Guided by a spirit of cooperation and cultural preservation, MLTC continues to strengthen community well-being and self-determination.
About Tolko Industries Ltd.
Tolko is a world-class value-added forest products manufacturer headquartered in Western Canada, offering a wide and growing range of forest products to customers around the world. For nearly 70 years, Tolko has remained a private, family-owned, and values-driven workplace dedicated to people, products, and communities. Tolko recognizes and respects the rights, history and resilience of Indigenous Peoples and is committed to increasing Indigenous participation in forestry through partnership with the Indigenous communities where we operate.
(Back, left to right): Ryan LaRose, Director at MLTC; Bradley Young, Director at MLTC; Ruby Sinclair, Director at MLTC; Janis Simpkins, Tolko VP, Indigenous & Government Relations and Sustainability; Brandon Hanson, Director at MLTC; Chad Wilkinson, Tolko Forestry Superintendent, Indigenous Relations. (Front): Jeremy Norman, Tribal Chief, and Pino Pucci, Tolko President and CEO.
