Alberta Indian Agriculture Development Corporation

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Indian farmers group to announce new loan company

The introduction of a loan company to the Alberta Indian Agricultural Development Corporation (AIADC), is expected to be announced earl7y next year, said Simon Gladue, AIADC general manager.

"The loan company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of AIADC," said Gladue. "We've already appointed a board of directors and it is expected the company will meet the terms required to be eligible for the Native Economic Development Program's funding criteria."

AIADC is an Indian agricultural company that has until now only been able to help Native farmers in the application process of applying for funds.

"Indians are in a difficult position," explained Gladue. "Because they don't actually own the land they are farming, it is difficult for them to get a loan from the conventional sources. They don't have any collateral."

"If a bank loan did go sour, it would be difficult for a bank to collect," said Gladue.

Gladue blames this, along with the advent of modern and expensive farming machinery and techniques for the decline of the Indian farmer.

"Farming has become more and more modern and technical," said Gladue. "With no ready available loan sources, Indians slowly drifted away from farming."

But that trend is reversing itself, especially with the help of AIADC.

AIADC, has a staff of about 10 at the main office in Calgary along with field workers across the province. The field workers work in the same capacity as a district agriculturalist and can be contacted either through AIADC or through the bands office.

Field workers are also the medium with which a farmer can tap into the numerous resources offered through AIADC.

"We not only offer advice and guidance," said Gladue. "We offer many different seminars and workshops, from the basics of livestock nutrition to welding."

Courses and workshops generally run from one to five days and are held according to demand.

AIADC is also actively involved in research projects. Extensive research and field work has been done in providing irrigation to the Treaty 7, or southern area of the province. To date more than 100,000 acres in this area are being watered through irrigation projects.

Meanwhile in the Treaty 6 and 8 areas of the province much work is being put into wild rice, poultry, swine and market gardens.

But AIADC does not limit itself to just the hands-on farming. They also provide workshops, advice and assistance in farm finance. "It really is like running a small business," said Gladue.

And like a small business owner, a farmer has to put in a lot of long hours and hard work. "Patience is the key," said Gladue. "It can take ten years for a new farmer to finally break even."

Gladue says a lot of research, including going to school for a farming diploma should be put into any agricultural project undertaken.

"If you're thinking of a farming career, I think an education can be a real asset," said Gladue. "Studies have shown that a farmer has to spend an average of 15 days a year on seminars and workshops just to keep up with all the new farming information."

Gladue also recommends talking to other farmers and making a farming plan. The plan can be drawn up with the help of an AIADC fieldworker and is used by AIADC to keep the potential farmer on the right track.

Gladue also says it is necessary for the new farmer to attain a land tenure from the Band, usually at least a quarter section, he advises.

Until the new loan company is fully operational, AIADC will continue to help the new farmer in obtaining funds.

In their eight years of operation AIADC has built up a clientele of more than 600 farmers. It is an impressive record for a non-profit corporation that began with meetings between the three Alberta treaty areas and officials from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).

The impetus for the formation of AIADC was the potential for agricultural development of Indian-owned land in Albeta. Less than a third of the 1.5 million acres of reserve land, capable of agricultural production is being cultivated, with the majority of it being leased out and farmed by non-Natives.

The meetings ended with the formation of AIADC and the development of a plan to provide financing, training, education and support to Indian farmers. The corporation is meeting its goal of creating models of success that Indian communities can look up to.

That goal also led to the creation of the Native Farm and Ranch Award presented annually to a Native family showing not only success in farming but also showing great community spirit.

AIADC has itself been just given an award, the Ivan Ahenakew award, given to organizations dedicated to increasing Native employment.

"We were really honoured to get it," said Gladue. "It is really a proud achievement."

AIADC plans to continue its efforts in developing agricultural employment for Natives. And it is hoped that the development of its loan company will ensure its goals will be met.