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Canada, First Nations agree on unmet agricultural claims

A handful of specific agricultural benefit claims between the federal government and nine First Nations were settled on Friday. Once fully settled, these claims—unmet promises in treaties 5, 6 and 10 territories throughout the Prairie provinces—will represent almost $1.4 billion in combined compensation to these First Nations.



An accompaniment to the panel “The Road Ahead: building bridges for the future.”

Indigenous entrepreneurs speak to issues in Canadian agriculture

Access to funding one of the biggest barriers, say Indigenous entrepreneurs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Indigenous entrepreneurs spoke about the challenges they face in agricultural business, and the importance of community, at the recent Future of Food Conference in Ottawa. Wabanaki Maple CEO and founder Jolene Johnson, Manitoulin Brewing Company co-owner Nishin Meawasige and Kitasoo Development Corporation general manager Isaiah Robinson spoke on a panel moderated by […] Read more

Jason Cardinal talks market gardens and tech to attendees of the Indigenous Ag Summit at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. (Lisa Guenther photo)

At Agribition: Northern community integrates tech, education into market garden

Flying Dust working to improve operation's food distribution

Riverside Market Garden, operated by Flying Dust First Nation, started in 2009 with two people and an old alfalfa field. Today it employs about 20 people, plus summer students; provides food for the community and some wholesalers; and gives youth a chance to learn about agriculture. Over the years the First Nation, just north of […] Read more


Kainai-Blood Chief Roy Fox (Blackfoot name Makiinima) stands in front of a painting of Stamikso’sak, a Blood Tribe war chief from the early 1800s.

Alberta First Nations tribe spins hay into gold

Kainai Forage sets a new record with a 40,000 tonne first cut and it has no plans of stopping there

Reading Time: 4 minutes Four years ago, Kainai Forage set out to increase its premium forage production fivefold by 2024. If its first cut is any indication, it could be on its way to that 100,000-tonne goal. The plant-to-processing company recently set a record-best first cut when it harvested more than 40,000 tonnes of export-destined timothy hay grown under […] Read more

Building bridges to Indigenous communities

Building bridges to Indigenous communities

Western Canadian society has a wall running straight down its middle, dividing the world into Indigenous and non-Indigenous spheres. Breaking that wall down is in everyone’s interest, according to Kendal Netmaker. The Saskatoon-based Indigenous entrepreneur, author and consultant told the Canadian Crops Convention his priority is removing that wall. “We need to knock it down […] Read more


Lawrence Lamouche, is the traditional lands manager — and the main bison tender — for the Woodland Cree First Nation.

For the first time in generations, bison have returned to traditional lands

The herd is small but Woodland Cree First Nation manager says they’re learning the bison ranching ropes

Reading Time: 4 minutes After many, many years, Wood bison have returned to the Woodland Cree First Nation. “Back in the day, sakâw mostos (the Cree term for Wood bison), this would have been their natural habitat,” said Lawrence Lamouche, traditional lands manager for the Woodland Cree First Nation, located about 85 kilometres northwest of Peace River. The Nation, […] Read more

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just one day, but it is a call to action for everyone.

Opinion: The path to reconciliation can start by reading some good books

There is some excellent fiction and non-fiction that opens the door to history — and understanding

Reading Time: 3 minutes Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day meant to honour the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Many people haven’t learned the history of residential schools because it wasn’t part of school curricula until recently and was seldom […] Read more


Tighter regulations take effect for B.C. farmland reserve

Tighter regulations take effect for B.C. farmland reserve

Local governments' expanded role to take effect this fall

New regulations governing how — or if — changes can be made to land’s status within British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) are now in force, but local governments get more prep time for their expanded role. The province on Thursday announced amendments to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Act — having received royal assent […] Read more