"NAFA is a grass roots initiative backed by First Nations and other Aboriginal groups and organizations that function at either the regional or community level in the area of forestry. The Board of Directors is comprised of ten representatives, one from each of the provinces and territories, except for the Atlantic region, which has two directors. "
The creation of a National Aboriginal forestry organization was called for at the landmark conference on Native forestry, entitled the National Native Forestry Symposium - Ethic To Reality. The conference was held in Vancouver, November 22-24, 1989, and was attended by some 450 delegates. At the conference, there was a consensus of support from the delegates in favour of establishing a national organization to promote forestry as a necessary condition for Aboriginal economic development, the repair of environment degradation, and the restoration of cultural and community spiritual health for Aboriginal people across the country.
1990-2000