By farmnewsNOW Staff

Feds and Prairie provinces to help Indigenous communities in agriculture

Jun 27, 2023 | 5:36 PM

A new partnership with the federal government and the Prairie provinces could lead to the way for Indigenous participation in agriculture.

On Tuesday, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau along with the agriculture minister of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba announced they have completed a collaborative project that engaged First Nations communities with the goal of furthering Indigenous participation in agriculture.

According to the final report, roughly 89 per cent of communities surveyed are interested in agriculture. However, a large portion of leased and rented land is operated by non-Indigenous farmers.

(Canadian Agricultural Partnership)

There appears to be many barriers for Indigenous communities to be active in agriculture. According to the report, the biggest ones are a lack of access to funding and capital, access to equipment, a lack of agriculture knowledge and inadequate agriculture infrastructure on reserve.

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The report indicates that some First Nations communities in the Prairie provinces are interested in growing their food systems through traditional practices as well as increasing their participation within the agriculture sector.

“We have a lot to learn from the knowledge and diverse experiences of First Nations partners,” said Bibeau. “By working together in the spirit of reconciliation, we will support actions that will increase their participation in the agriculture sector and further advance food systems among Indigenous communities.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to support First Nations’ engagement in the agricultural sector to develop economic, social, and cultural opportunities that will help us all move forward together,” said Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit. “Jurisdictional collaboration helps to advance the sector to its continued path of sustainability and growth.”

Consultations with First Nations community began in May 2021 and focused on identifying current practices and the resources, policies, programs and actions required to further advance First Nations food systems and agricultural and agri-processing economic development.

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Derek.Craddock@pattisonmedia.com