Program to increase number of First Nations farmers

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"The First Nations Agricultural Program of Saskatchewan will exist to develop a strong, viable and sustainable agricultural sector both on and off the reserve for status Indians in the Province of Saskatchewan."

Such is the mission statement for the new Aboriginal agricultural initiative now being developed by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

The First Nations Agricultural Program of Saskatchewan (FNAPS) program (an interim name apt to change when the final program is unveiled) began in the fall of 2000, when the FSIN, under the leadership of Vice Chief Guy Lonechild, appointed an initial task force to assess the current state of First Nations agriculture. This broad task force had representatives from the on reserve farm population, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada, the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food, and the private sector. In conjunction with P.M. Associates, the Winnipeg-based consulting firm brought on board to facilitate the discussions and develop the final agricultural plan, the task force has been working for over a year to identify the many areas of need and propose possible solutions.

On Jan 24 and 25, Lonechild publicly presented the task force findings and the still-evolving program for the first time at a First Nations agriculture symposium in Saskatoon.

"To realize the full potential of our land, we are launching a new program for agricultural development which will bring all Saskatchewan stakeholders together in a cooperative venture," said Lonechild. "Quite frankly, the current approach to agriculture is not succeeding."

An extensive look at current First Nations farming practices across the province certainly supports this viewpoint and highlights the need for the FNAPS program. Figures provided by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food indicate that, of the 65,653,588 acres of farmed land in the province, Saskatchewan First Nations currently control roughly 1.6 million acres, or 2.4 percent of the land base. Of the 56,955 farms in the province (1996 figures), there are an estimated 500 operated by First Nations farmers and ranchers-less than 1 percent of the overall total. From an income standpoint, Saskatchewan's agricultural industry generated some 5.4 billion dollars of gross receipts in 1999. The First Nations share of these receipts was estimated at less than $20 million.

Many reasons for these disparities have been identified during the FNAPS development, the most obvious being a simple lack of land usage. At present, non-Native farmers lease about 80% of the First Nation's agricultural land. Nor is there currently much incentive for new First Nations farmers - another task force finding was that Aboriginal producers have serious difficulty accessing the various federal and provincial income support programs.

The FNAPS program has already established some lofty goals to strive for. It intends to have 750 First Nation farms in operation within five years of its implementation. Within ten, the goal has been set at 1000, a full doubling of the present number.

Meeting these goals will not be easy, and they will require effort in many different areas. The FNAPS program takes this into account, and has a number of separate components to ensure both immediate and sustainable long-term growth in the agricultural industry.

A technical advisory component will employ several rural based farm advisors, who will provide advice and assistance to Aboriginal producers across the province. A training and education component will support Aboriginal students enrolled in agricultural programs at any of the province's universities and technical schools, and will also stage in-community training events for existing producers. Other components will help with land management, access to financing, and the development of value-added spin-off industries.

"We are counting on agriculture to create wealth and employment opportunities for our people," Lonechild tressed.

If FNAPS can indeed reach its goals and help Aboriginal farmers overcome the many difficulties they face, the industry's potential is impressive. At the ten year goal of 1,000 farms, a revived First Nation's agricultural industry could generate close to $100 billion in revenue.