Prairie provinces, feds push for more First Nations farming

Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba have joined forces with the federal government on a push to get more Indigenous people active in the agriculture sector.

The four governments recently completed a collaborative engagement effort with First Nations communities “with the goal of furthering Indigenous participation in the agriculture sector.” The project began in May of 2021 with a focus on identifying practices, resources, policies, programs and actions that can advance both First Nations food systems and economic development in agriculture and agri-processing.

The governments said the report produced shows Indigenous communities in the prairie provinces want to increase their participation in the industry, and also want to grow food systems through traditional practices.

“We have a lot to learn from the knowledge and diverse experiences of First Nations partners,” federal Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau said in a statement.

“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 engagement project was supported by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3-billion initiative involving Canada’s federal and provincial/territorial governments.

“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,” David Marit, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister, said in a statement.

“Jurisdictional collaboration helps to advance the sector to its continued path of sustainability and growth.”