First Nations Agricultural Symposium to Take Place in Saskatoon

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

It is an agricultural operator segment that has the potential to significantly influence the face of Saskatchewan agriculture. First Nations bands and entrepreneurs are emerging as farmers, ranchers and agribusiness operators. To effectively tap into increasing opportunities, the First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (FNACS) is holding its first annual agriculture symposium in Saskatoon on June 27 and 28.

The symposium is held in conjunction with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture Indigenous Development Conference. Its theme is “Building Futures with Mother Earth: Indigenous Development”, and will feature panel discussions with international guest speakers, along with over a dozen exhibitors varying from financial institutions, agricultural organizations/companies, First Nation businesses, education institutions and evening entertainment.

“The conference will bring in people from Arizona and New Zealand, as well as from the University of Saskatchewan, and it will look at different methods of agricultural development on First Nations land," says Usne Butt, Manager of Agriculture and Environment at FNACS. "I am hoping it will bring out some ideas for new ways to implement some of this development in our own programs.

“Under the Treaty Land Entitlement process and through the honour acres system, First Nations bands are acquiring huge tracks of land. In recent times, agriculture has not really been perceived as viable. People are leaving farming, and what has happened is that land owned by First Nations is now being left fallow. It is an opportune time for First Nations to take it over and manage it on their own.”

FNACS was established in 2004 as a non-profit organization to develop a strong, viable and sustainable agricultural sector, both on and off reserve, for status Indians in Saskatchewan. Through the guidance and feedback of Saskatchewan First Nation's farmers, ranchers, chiefs and councils, FNACS has developed a vision and plan to ensure the participation of First Nations in agriculture.

“We are tackling this in different ways—using education to teach people how to manage the land and develop it for agricultural use in a sustainable manner,” explains Butt. “By bringing in fresh ideas and new perspectives, we have an opportunity to learn from success stories in other areas.

“The Arizona and New Zealand models are very different models of agriculture than here, but my understanding is that some of them have engendered very successful agricultural developments, and, ideally, we will apply those models here in a way that works with our people.”

Butt, himself, is a status Indian, originally from Saddle Lake, Alberta. He has a Master’s degree in biology, and wouldn’t trade his place for the world because of the resource potential he sees all around him.

“I love getting out on the land and seeing some of these reserves and some of these beautiful pieces of real estate in this province. People don’t really appreciate what is here, so from that sense, I am quite happy. From a strategic point of view, this symposium is really opportune. I think our organization is in a good position to assist in different aspects of development from a strategic business planning, sustainability and training point of view. What we are attempting to do is very ambitious, but we are really starting to see results."

The symposium and conference will take place at the Saskatoon Inn.

For more information, contact the First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan at 306-978-8872 or www.fnacs.ca

For more information, contact:

Usne Butt
Manager of Agriculture and Environment
First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan
(306) 978-8872
usne@fnacs.ca