Guy Wright, RPF – K’ómoks First Nation

Guy helps to ensure that forests grow back healthy after sustainable harvesting. K’ómoks First Nation Forestry supports the prosperity of the K’ómoks First Nation by using sustainable forest management to create economic opportunities. The K’ómoks First Nation is also certified to the SFI Small-Scale Forest Management Module for Indigenous Peoples, Families, and Communities. Guy’s native name is “wa’kadzi ala’kila,” which means “a good man and giver of elk blankets.”

K’ómoks First Nation Forestry is an SFI-certified organization.

Guy’s story is included in A Guide to Green Jobs in Canada: Voices of Indigenous Professionals.

Download the guide

GUY’S LOVE OF NATURE COMES FROM…

“I can still remember being in my grandpa’s canoe with my dad. We were on a crystal-clear lake. I could see the bottom and trout swimming around. My grandpa would lure the trout up. We would catch them and fry them up beside the creek, then play “I spy” the whole way home”

“My wife had similar experiences growing up. Now, once a month, we take a family day out in the bush. We get our kids out of the house and into the mountains. It’s an important part of raising our kids!”

GUY BECAME A FORESTER  BECAUSE…

“I like being outside. I became interested in forestry while working as a forestry assistant for KDC Forestry Consulting. My supervisor was a University of British Columbia (UBC) grad who encouraged me to do some academic upgrading to get into the UBC Faculty of Forestry. I then landed some summer student work. An opening came up in forest engineering. Planning roads and boundaries was like a puzzle. You need to put the pieces together and make it work. I was hooked!”

TO GUY, BEING INDIGENOUS IN A GREEN JOB MEANS…

“I pride myself in getting the best return for our trees, which are renewable assets. Our forestry work supports education and all sorts of other important things for the K’ómoks First Nation. I want to help keep growing my First Nation’s businesses so our people can have even more opportunities. Hopefully I can train and mentor someone to take it over in the future.”