Women's indigenous knowledge and community forest management in British Columbia: A case study with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation

This study was undertaken in collaboration with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation (HFN) of Vancouver Island's West Coast in an attempt to better understand the role of HFN women and their Indigenous knowledge in the planning and management of a recently developed community forest initiative, which is being undertaken by the HFN in partnership with the neighboring non-Native community of Bamfield. The Bamfield Huu-ay-aht Community Forest (BHCF) presents a series of unique cultural and economic opportunities for HFN women, whose extensive forest-related Indigenous knowledge could facilitate the successful harvesting of various Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) within the BHCF. However, HFN women have encountered a number of barriers to their meaningful participation in the BHCF, such that their involvement at present is severely limited. A case study approach is used to assess these opportunities and barriers, and to determine the extent to which they are related to women's empowerment within the community.