Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Volunteering
Conferences & Public Speaking
References
Timeline
Generic

Catherine Langille

Victoria ,BC

Summary

I am a First Nations woman who has spent my career building meaningful partnerships across the forest sector in Canada and the U.S. From leading youth camps to developing national engagement strategies, every role I’ve held has been about connection. I focus on bringing Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous forest industry together in ways that are ethical, practical, and prioritize respect. I’ve helped align and represent major organizations, and through these roles, I’ve cultivated strong relationships with nations, corporate leaders, governments, and youth programs, ensuring Indigenous voices and values are included in workforce development, forest management, and certification systems. My work isn’t siloed. It’s all connected: a network I continue to grow with intention, trust, and a commitment to supporting the future of our forests.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Workforce Development

BC First Nation Forestry Council
Nanaimo, British Columbia
03.2025 - Current
  • Lead the Indigenous Forestry Scholarship Program, managing 25+ students and partnerships with multiple industry sponsors to support students through post-secondary education and forestry-related work placements.
  • Coordinate and chair a province-wide Steering Committee of industry leaders, guiding strategic feedback loops to ensure FNFC's work reflects the needs of BC’s forest sector while upholding Indigenous values.
  • Tasked with revitalizing and managing FNFC’s Indigenous Mentorship Program, building a new model that reflects relational learning, cultural safety, and long-term impact.
  • Develop and deliver Indigenous workforce programming in alignment with the BC First Nations Forestry Workforce Strategy, centering First Nations priorities in all engagement.
  • Carry forward long-standing relationships with key partners from past roles, including SFI and OYEP to strengthen continuity across national and provincial Indigenous forestry networks.
  • Act as a bridge between First Nations communities, government, and industry, guiding ethical engagement approaches and supporting the growth of Nation-to-Nation relationships across the province.

Senior Indigenous Relations Coordinator

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Ottawa, Ontario
09.2019 - 08.2024
  • Supported Indigenous relations and engagement across all SFI pillars, with a focus on increasing Indigenous inclusion and visibility within certification and educational resources.
  • Managed and strengthened the formal partnership (MOU) between SFI and the Outland Youth Employment Program, aligning land-based Indigenous youth programming with national forestry and green career pathways.
  • Proactively engaged with high-relevancy Indigenous organizations across Canada and the U.S. to co-develop strategic partnerships and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
  • Represented SFI at major forestry and Indigenous-focused conferences (e.g., OFIA, BC FNFC, Women in Forestry, Indigenous Resource Network etc), building trusted relationships, and advocating for Indigenous relationships.
  • Led or co-led initiatives that bridged SFI-certified organizations with Indigenous communities, helping forest partners better understand how to engage in meaningful, culturally respectful ways.
  • Supported the development of a small-scale forest certification pathway for Indigenous communities, coordinating national partnerships with Sioux College, Project Learning Tree Canada, the Green Jobs funding program, and the Green Mentor Program, to deliver culturally relevant training and workforce supports.

Crew Manager

Outland Youth Employment Program
Atikokan, Ontario
07.2015 - 07.2023
  • Progressed from youth participant to camp manager over eight years and managed crews of 20+ Indigenous youth through land-based education, providing mentorship, safety support, and logistical leadership throughout each 6-week season.
  • Built trust-based relationships with youth from nations across Canada, gaining firsthand insight into their experiences, goals, and the systemic barriers they face, helping to inform stronger youth engagement models.
  • Led in-camp coordination with OYEP’s national partners (including Trans Canada Trail, SFI, FPAC, Forest Ontario, Nature Canada, etc.), managing their interactions with youth, and ensuring respectful, impactful engagement.
  • Co-created a management training framework for camp staff to strengthen cultural safety, relational leadership, and trauma-informed practice in youth programming.
  • Played a key role in sustaining the formal partnership between OYEP and SFI through direct in-camp implementation, partner hosting, and long-term relationship building.
  • Alternated between management on OYEP camps and tree-planting contracts, gaining experience in both industry-facing and youth-facing forest environments, supporting a full-circle view of workforce development.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Indigenous Environmental Science

Trent University
Peterborough
05-2024

Skills

  • Forest Certification Knowledge
  • Passionate, Optimistic, and Personable
  • Public Speaking & Two-eyed seeing
  • Cross-sector partnership development
  • Nation-to-nation engagement
  • Indigenous Perspectives

Accomplishments

Indigenous Youth Skills Award 2024

  • Forest Products Association of Canada

Certification

  • The Fundamentals of OCAP Certification
  • Respecting Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within Sustainable Forestry Management
  • Project Management Training Certification
  • Ontario Recreational Kayak and Canoe Certification
  • Speaker Moderator Training
  • First Aid Certification
  • Chainsaw Certification

Volunteering

Youth Council Chair - 2025 

  • Outland Youth Employment Program

Indigenous Advisory Committee - Present

  • Trans Canada Trails

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee - 2024

  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Women in Forestry Roundtable Discussion - 2024 

  • Ministry of Forests

Women in Wood Network - Present 

Conferences & Public Speaking

  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative Conferences - Attendee 2019 - 2024
  • Canadian Council of Forest Ministers - Speaker 2019 & 2024
  • BC First Nations Forestry Council Conference - Attendee 2024 & 2025
  • Women in Forestry Conference - Speaker 2024
  • Indigenous Resource Opportunity Conference - Attendee 2024
  • Ontario Forest Industry Association Conference - Speaker 2024
  • This list highlights major events; additional engagements available upon request.

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Workforce Development

BC First Nation Forestry Council
03.2025 - Current

Senior Indigenous Relations Coordinator

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
09.2019 - 08.2024

Crew Manager

Outland Youth Employment Program
07.2015 - 07.2023

Bachelor of Arts - Indigenous Environmental Science

Trent University

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