Welcome

The Forum was held in 2018 and it brought together First Nations Land Managers, farmers, leadership, and organizations involved in agriculture, from field crops to market gardening and community-based food security initiatives, to ranching, with researchers and policy makers to discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategies for success in Indigenous Agriculture in Saskatchewan.

The goal was to share information on current agricultural activities occurring on First Nations reserve land and by Indigenous people and identify potential areas that could be improved with research – from marketing and business planning to crop disease, soil, and pasture management.

Download Printable Program

Report and outcomes

We are the Buffalo

This spoken word piece was created by Zoey Roy - she is poet, community-based educator, community engagement consultant, author, filmmaker and social entrepreneur - who attended the Forum and wrote the piece based on the conversations she heard and witnessed. Marcel Petit edited the video and Muska Lerat engineered the sound.

Forum Report

A position paper on the outcomes of the Forum was written and submitted as part of the funding requirements of the SSHRC Indigenous Research and Reconciliation - Connections Grant. It will also be submitted for publication. For inquiries and further details, please email melissa.arcand@usask.ca and see website for updates.

Download Forum Report

Program Schedule

December 18, 2018 - Awi-Pasqua-South rooms - Wanuskewin

Sheldon Wuttunee and Dale Worme are your MCs for the event

8:30-9:00 am	Registration and continental breakfast
9:00-9:20	Opening prayer (Roland Duquette) and Introductions (Anthony Johnston)
9:20-9:30	Welcoming remarks (Melissa Arcand)
9:30-10:00	Chief Cadmus Delorme – Cowessess’s agricultural journey
10:00-10:30	Sheldon Wuttunee – Economic Opportunity Agriculture and Natural Resources on First Nation Lands: From Past to Present
10:30-10:50	Health break
10:50-11:30	Moderated panel of long-time First Nations farmers featuring Garry Albert (Sweet Grass) and Everette Bear (Muskoday)
11:30-12:00	Discussion
12:00-1:00 pm	Lunch and Networking
1:00-1:30	Cheyanne Desnomie – File Hills Farm Colony
1:30-2:15	Moderated panel of First Nations land managers on managing agricultural leases featuring Kelsey Watson-Daniels (Mistawasis), Judy Wasacase (Kahkewistahaw), Dean Bear (Muskoday)
2:15-3:00	Health Break & Poster viewing
3:00-3:20	Dale Worme – Agricultural Policy and Program Development
3:20-4:15	Dr. Winona Wheeler - Agriculture and Treaty Rights Discussion
4:15-4:30	Summary of Day 1

December 19, 2018 - Pasqua-South rooms - Wanuskewin

8:30-9:00	Registration and continental breakfast
9:00-9:15	Priority Themes Emerging from Day 1 (Melissa Arcand and Lori Bradford)
9:15-9:50	Glenna Cayen - Nutrition & Food Security in Indigenous Communities
9:50-10:30	Glenda Abbott - Indigenous Cultural Resurgence & Turtle Island’s Food Sovereignty Movement
10:30-10:50	Health break
10:50-11:30	Discussion
11:30-12:00	Debra Shewfelt (RESPEC) and Natalie Shepherd (SK First Nations Natural Resources Centre of Excellence) – Managing geospatial land and resource data: Case study
12:00-1:00	Lunch and networking
1:00-1:30	Elmer Eashappie - Indigenous Agricultural Summit at Agribition
1:30-2:00	Randy Bear - Agriculture and Muskoday First Nation
2:00-2:15	Description of discussion groups for land managers, leadership, farmers, researchers & policy makers
2:15-2:30	Health Break
2:30-3:15	Focus Groups with snacks and beverages
3:15-3:30	Full Group Discussion - Envisioning a future of Indigenous agriculture - prioritizing goals
3:30-3:40	Forum summary and closing remarks
3:40-3:50	Zoey Roy, U of S Artist in Residence, Spoken-word performance
3:50-4:00	Closing Prayer

Speakers

Panel of long-term First Nations farmers, featuring:
- Everette Bear (Muskoday First Nation) and Garry Albert (Sweetgrass First Nation)
Panel of First Nations land managers and technicians on agricultural leasing, featuring:
- Kelsey Watson-Daniels (Mistawasis Nêhiyawak), Dean Bear (Muskoday First Nation), Judy Wasacase (Kahkewistahaw First Nation)

Glenda Abbott, Pelican Lake First Nation
Randy Bear, Muskoday First Nation
Glenna Cayen, Canadian Feed the Children
Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation
Cheyanne Desnomie, University of Regina
Elmer Eashappie, Carry the Kettle First Nation
Natalie Shepherd, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resources Centre of Excellence
Debra Shewfelt, RESPEC
Dr. Winona Wheeler, Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan
Dale Worme, National Indigenous Agriculture Association
Sheldon Wuttunee, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resources Centre of Excellence
Zoey Roy, Spoken Word Artist

Registration

Update: The event is now at room capacity. Thanks to everyone for your interest and support! We will post outcomes of the Forum on the website for those not able to attend.

To register send an email to Triann Littlepine at triann.littlepine@usask.ca or call (306) 966-6882.

There is no cost to register, but spots are limited.

Please let us know the following information:

Community or Organization
Job Title
Dietary Restrictions, if any
If you plan to attend both days of the Forum, Dec. 18th only, or Dec. 19th only

Indigenous participants travelling from outside of Saskatoon will be reimbursed for travel, meals, and accommodations costs. More information about reimbursements will be announced.

Accommodations

Saskatoon Inn - Special rate extended - book by Dec. 7!

To reserve your hotel room call in to (306) 242-1440 extension "1" and quote the “Ag Forum” block of rooms or book online using your own credit card and you will be reimbursed. Please call Triann Littlepine (306) 966-6882 if you need assistance. Three night maximum (Dec. 17-Dec 20).

Book Accommodations!

Venue Directions

Wanuskewin Heritage Park is located just north of Saskatoon at:

RR #4, Penner Road
Saskatoon, SK

Our Team

Melissa Arcand, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Assistant Professor, Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan

Triann Littlepine
Research Assistant, Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan

Dale Worme
CEO, National Indigenous Agriculture Association, Ltd.

Ken Bear
President, National Indigenous Agriculture Association, Ltd.

Sheldon Wuttunee
CEO and President, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resources Centre of Excellence

Anthony Blair Dreaver Johnston
Special Projects, Iron Buffalo Centre, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Lori Bradford, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability,University of Saskatchewan

David Natcher, PhD
Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan

Graham Strickert, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability, Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan

Kelsey Watson-Daniels
Lands Technician, Lands Department, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Alfred Gamble
Land Manager, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Deb Shewfelt
Senior Geoscientist, RESPEC Consulting, Inc.