2017 International Forest Industries Magazines June July 2017 | Page 69

in the FMA. The business leaves local decisions to those with the local knowledge while providing coordinated oversight at the FMA level (Sakâw). The Thomas family became a skidder subcontractor under AC Forestry in the nineties and continued until the Weyerhaeuser closure that left AC Forestry with virtually no harvest contract. Always the entrepreneurs, the family got into the food concession business, travelling to local Pow Wows. This period marks a rare departure from logging for Gary and Darren. “We always tip waitresses well. It is hard work being on your feet or in the kitchen all day,” says Gary speaking from experience. In November 2010 Sakâw Askiy Management Inc. acquired the Prince Albert Forest Management Agreement from Weyerhaeuser Canada on behalf of its eight member companies. AC Forestry ended up with an annual cut of around 700 000 cubic metres. The brothers returned to AC Forestry, this time as employees. They did a five-year stint – with Gary operating feller buncher and Darren on a processor. The brothers always believed in their own abilities, work ethic and high (L-R) Chuck Miles, Darren Thomas, Greg Bill, Bob Head, Daniel Thomas, Gary Thomas, Melvin Gladue and James Farquhar International Forest Industries | JUNE / JULY 2017 63