Indigenous ag projects get funding

Sixteen projects to help support Indigenous-led food system initiatives will receive $4 million from the federal government.

“Our government is working to create a more inclusive agriculture sector that respects the values of Indigenous peoples,” said Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau in a statement. “These investments are intended to ensure that Indigenous peoples have equal opportunities in the sector, the resources they need to be successful, and access to safe and affordable food.”

One project, based in Saskatchewan, is receiving up to $954,000 to reintroduce grain farming as a career path, and to finalize a business plan for Cowessess First Nation to expand its farming operation to 2,000 acres.

Chief Cadmus Delorme said the long-term goal is to have a fleet of grain farming equipment. Cowessess members, according to Delorme, “utilized the teachings and tools provided to support an agricultural existence” after signing Treaty Four. “Overtime Cowessess members were great farmers; then Canadian policy made it harder for Cowessess members to farm.”

Delorme says the intention now is to “to revive agriculture and enable our community and its citizens to benefit from the vast amount of arable acres Cowessess First Nation owns.”

Another project will see Xaxli’p First Nation in British Columbia get $88,000 to “prepare the community to engage in a number of agricultural activities by conducting a market study, a land capability assessment and an irrigation water source assessment.”

Economic development officer for Xaxli’p, Lyle Leo, said in a statement this “project is a steppingstone to business planning and infrastructure improvements.”

Bigstone Cree Nation will receive $131,000 to identify and plan agri-business opportunities to enter into Alberta’s market.

Most of the funding comes from the Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative.