VIDEO: Building bridges to indigenous communities

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Published: March 10, 2023

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Western Canadian society has a wall running straight down its middle, dividing the world into Indigenous and non-Indigenous spheres. Breaking that wall down is in everyone's interest, according to Kendal Netmaker, speaking during the Canadian Crops Convention in Ottawa this week. | Screencap via Glacier FarmMedia

Western Canadian society has a wall running straight down its middle, dividing the world into Indigenous and non-Indigenous spheres.

Breaking that wall down is in everyone’s interest, according to Kendal Netmaker. The Saskatoon-based Indigenous entrepreneur, author and consultant told the Canadian Crops Convention his priority is removing that wall.

“We need to knock it down so that we can begin talking again,” he said. “That invisible wall is hurting us all. I grew up near Cutknife (Saskatchewan) where there were many farms, many rural communities and didn’t know people from them. We’re better than that. All of us are better than that.”

And among the benefits for rural Western Canada will be better relations, closer economic ties and possibly a nearby willing workforce, he said.

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Following his presentation he spoke to Gord Gilmour of Glacier FarmMedia, and Karen Briere of the Western Producer.

About the author

Gord Gilmour

Gord Gilmour

Publisher, Manitoba Co-operator, and Senior Editor, News and National Affairs, Glacier FarmMedia

Gord Gilmour has been writing about agriculture in Canada for more than 30 years. He's an award winning journalist and columnist who's currently the publisher of the Manitoba Co-operator and senior editor, news and national affairs for Glacier FarmMedia. He grew up on a grain and oilseed operation in east-central Saskatchewan that his brother still owns and operates, and occasionally lets Gord work on, if Gord promises to take it easy on the equipment.

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