A trio of northern First Nations are coming together to invest in employment opportunities for their communities.

A sawmill and co-generation facility in Hornepayne recently began operating again after being closed for a year.

The Brunswick House, Chapleau Cree and Missanabie Cree First Nations are investing $4 million to purchase an equity share in the facility.

"The concept was born over the last eight years," said David Flood, of the Wahkohtowin Development Group.

"The chiefs were collectively working together about how to take up real opportunities strategically in forestry and the forest sector and it just happened to be at the same time that the Hornepayne assets, one went into receivership and one went into protection."

The chiefs said the investment has risk, but they have borrowed the money, as they feel it's worth it to bring greater employment opportunities to their communities.

"It's our way of getting back involvement with the management and control of what's happening in our territories, as well as the land in general and the animals and the ecosystems," said Chief Kevin Tangie, Brunswick House First Nation.

"We can't be continually expecting the government, although it is their right to do it, I mean they're supposed to do it, but I'd much rather have my own economic engines, so that any future things we want to do at home we can afford to do them," explained Chief Keith Corston, Chapleau Cree First Nation.

Currently, the Hornepayne site employs 60 people on a full time basis, and more jobs could be created.

"One of the most immediate opportunities is actually to expand harvesting opportunities, to actually bring wood resources to both the co-gen and the sawmill," said Flood.

"We have direct access to that to actually train to employ operators to create full line harvesting. So we could see up to 50 people in the bush alone."

The purpose of the Wahkohtowin development is to create an inclusive partnership for other First Nations.

Flood said the Pic Mobert First Nation in White River is currently moving through the process to join the group.