More than 40 Aboriginal communities in Ontario have pledged to use wood as the main construction product when designing new housing and administrative buildings.
The Anishinabek Nation made the resolution in June at their general meeting at Rocky Bay First Nation near Nipigon.
The First Nations were lending their support to the North Bay-based WoodWORKS! initiative, which wants to boost demand for wood products within Canada due to the ongoing softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.
Other communities in Ontario have adopted similar resolutions recognizing that wood is as durable as concrete or steel, and is a renewable resource.
While most Canadian homes are constructed of lumber, WoodWORKS! is attempting to encourage more use of wood for construction in Canada's $6-billion commercial building sector.
