Blood Tribe irrigation project recognized

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Drive along Highway 509, southwest of Lethbridge, on a sunny day in June and the air smells sweet with the fragrance of thousands of acres of bright yellow canola. Tall plumes of timothy grass wave in the breeze. For as far as the eye can see, high-tech irrigation pivots spray rainbow-tinged showers of water on the land. This is the Blood Tribe

Agricultural Project, recipient of the 1998 Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) Recognition Award, and a source of pride and economic benefits for the Blood community.

In awarding the honor, a CANDO member said BTAP was "a model for all First Nations on how to plan, implement and operate a commercial venture on a reserve. Its success hinges on a viable agricultural base, traditional values and progressive leadership."

Francis First Charger, general manager of the project for most of its history, said the success of the project was due to combining high expectations and professional day-to-day operations. But many on the Reserve credit First Charger himself. Now a consultant with BTAP, after resigning recently to pursue other career goals, First Charger has a unique management style which juxtaposes traditional cultural beliefs with modern business skills and attitudes. His advice to his colleagues has always been:

"Keep it simple. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Get the job done."

The idea for the project got its start in the fifties, when the tribe agreed to allow construction of the St. Mary Reservoir and irrigation system on its land. Blood leaders envisioned a time when members of the reserve would benefit from the water, and renew the tradition started 60 years before of successful ranching and farming operations by its people. The dream became a reality in 1991, when the

tribal government signed a tripartite agreement with the governments of Alberta and Canada for funding to initiate the work.

Fully supported by the Chief and Council, though set up as a

separate commercial venture, BTAP sought to place almost 20,000 acres of the reserve's 'Big Lease' under irrigation. They have already come close to that and will reach their goal easily by the year 2000. Drainage work

is needed on some sections, before putting them into production.

The project is now the largest, single-owner, contiguous

irrigation project in Canada, and has provided jobs and training for several hundred members of the tribe. Reported to be budgeted for a total cost of more than $300 million, it's money most of the tribe feels is

well spent.

"It's a really good project for the tribe," says Arlene Eagle Child, executive administrative assistant for the project. "It's provided lots of jobs and training, and it's a good place to work."

Eagle Child, who's been in her position for seven years, says she enjoys working with the other project people. And she doesn't even mind the travel.

"I don't live too far, and it's so nice and quiet when you get here. You can get a lot of work done."

To date, almost 500 jobs have been created for tribal members in the construction phase, and more than two dozen tribal members do regular work for BTAP, either full-time or on a seasonal basis.

BTAP also pays the tribal administration for rent of the Big Lease lands. Workers also received both on-the-job and off-job training that will allow them to get other jobs in the field off the reserve.

Conceived in six separate phases, the project is ahead of schedule with work nearing completion on Phase 6. Only minor work on crossings and pump houses remains to be done before this year's growing season starts, and ads offering 29 quarter section pivot irrigated fields have already appeared in local papers.

BTAP acts as both the developer and lessor of the land, which is parceled into 160-acre units. Under a joint venture with a private producer, they are also growing timothy for a highly touted diversification project, a hay densifying plant.

In past years a small holding was leased to an ndependent Blood tribe farmer, but currently the land is leased to non-reserve farmers who pay for the privilege at current market prices.

"It costs a lot of money to get into irrigated farming, even

when we supply the pivots," First Charger says. "There's a lot of interest from tribal members, but most don't have the money for the harvesting equipment."

BTAP provides all-inclusive leases (land, water, and irrigation pivot systems) to approved tenants for terms up to 10 years. Lease rates are about $100 to $150 an acre and are at 100 per cent occupancy. Crops grown include canola,

Kentucky Blue Grass, forage hay, wheat, alfalfa, barley, and Timothy grass.

Timothy is a favored crop for the project now. An agreement was signed by BTAP last year with Transfeeder Inc. of Olds, Alberta and the Sumitomo Corporation of Japan for the processing and supply of 30,000 tonnes a year of premium quality compressed timothy, for Sumitomo's dairy operations throughout Asia.

Currently employing more than 30 people, the timothy plant, located a few miles from BTAP's own headquarters, hopes to expand to employ up to 100 seasonal and full-time workers. BTAP is currently thinking about further diversification into potatoes, to meet the needs of several new processing plants being built in the area.

"We've had people knocking on our door with all sorts of

proposals, but right now our mandate is to get the irrigation complete and to get more timothy growing, to support the forage processing plant," First Charger says.

First Charger says the Big Lease area is highly suited to serve the needs of today's farmers, contract growers and processors.

"BTAP's size can assure large quantities of quality controlled produce at a single location. The availability of good access, electrical power, natural gas and a productive workforce offers new opportunities for profitable agri-business ventures."

According to Wally Chinn, head of the Farm Irrigation Section in Alberta Agriculture's Lethbridge offie, BTAP is using state-of-the-art technology and is, in many ways, a model for irrigation projects in developing countries around the world.

Though much of the construction was done by outside companies, the contracts called for these businesses to employ tribal workers whenever possible. A number of subcontracts were awarded to tribal members.

BTAP now will have about 100 pivots operating on the project when it's complete. Because they are using a variety of equipment on a very similar land base, Alberta Agriculture is conducting a study of sprinkler efficiency at the project. Results may allow BTAP and other farmers to cut down on pumping costs and water use.