The B.C. Agriculture Plan

IV. Building First Nations Agricultural Capacity

First Nations will have new opportunities to develop agricultural capacity for healthier communities, increased employment and greater self-reliance.

First Nation farmers participate in many farming activities, including cattle ranching in the Interior, grape growing in the Okanagan and organic market gardening in the Fraser Valley and the coast. Our goal is to further develop the capacity of First Nations people to fully meet the many opportunities provided through agriculture and related activities.

Chief Harold Aljam
President
First Nations Agriculture Association

First Nations derive many of their traditions from environmental stewardship of the land and other natural resources. Agriculture can play a key role in developing communities, while maintaining these traditions.

We are committed to supporting First Nations in achieving economic diversity through agriculture and in promoting the connection between fresh food, health and environmental stewardship. By creating a local, sustainable food system, First Nations can build healthy communities while increasing employment and promoting self-reliance.

The Kamloops Indian Band have established a successful forage enterprise, producing hay for their custom cattle feeding operation and for sale to the horse and cattle industry both on and off-reserve.
Canim Lake Band
The Matsqui First Nation have established a successful horticulture enterprise, producing field and greenhouse vegetables for elders and for sale to the local community.

We will work with First Nations to help facilitate participation in all of the programs and initiatives identified in the B.C. Agriculture Plan. We will work to expand extension services for First Nations, and will work with community colleges and other public educational institutions to establish effective programs that build skills for First Nations to become more involved in agriculture.

By working with First Nations in collaboration with ActNow BC, other ministries and the federal government, we will continue to develop effective nutrition education programs for First Nations. This includes consideration of an agriculture program in First Nations’ schools to parallel similar programs in the B.C. public school system.

Strategy 18: Facilitate First Nations participation in agriculture initiatives.
Strategy 19: Develop programs for First Nations at postsecondary institutions to build agricultural skill sets.

First Nations Community Food Systems

In 2004, the Nuxalk Nation, Bella Coola Hospital, Northern Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands launched a community garden pilot project to study how small-scale sustainable food production could be incorporated into First Nations communities.

As a result of this successful pilot, the First Nations Community Food Systems for Healthy Living (CFS) was launched in 2007 involving the First Nations Agriculture Lending Association (FNALA), the B.C. Aboriginal Agriculture Education Council and band councils from 16 First Nations.

CFS supports First Nations in achieving economic diversity through agriculture and in promoting the connection between fresh food and good health. The focus is on building healthy communities by meeting the basic human needs of sustenance using healthy alternatives.

By creating local, sustainable food systems, First Nations can build healthy communities while increasing employment and promoting self-reliance. CFS will result in long term advantages, as developing sustainable and environmentally sound practices will ensure preservation of the land base for future generations.

 

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