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

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

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

• 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

 

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. 

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!

Wanuskewin Heritage Park is located just north of Saskatoon at:

RR #4, Penner Road
Saskatoon, SK

• Map

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.

Melissa Arcand, Principal Investigator
(306) 966-2562
melissa.arcand@usask.ca

Triann Littlepine, Research Assistant
(306) 966-6882
triann.littlepine@usask.ca