The House agriculture committee finds there are opportunities for young Indigenous people to help meet labour needs
A report on Indigenous agriculture in Canada suggests more work lies ahead to help First Nations, Metis and Inuit people thrive in the industry.
The all-party standing committee on agriculture held five meetings to discuss the issue and acknowledged its study was limited.
However, the committee report to the House of Commons noted there are opportunities for young Indigenous people to help meet labour needs.
According to the 2016 Census of Agriculture, about 5,160 agricultural operators identified as Indigenous, or about 1.9 percent of all ag operators.
Read Also
Strong cattle prices boost forage sales, reps report at Ag in Motion 2025
Representatives from Proven Seed and BrettYoung at Ag in Motion 2025 are reporting strong forages sales across Western Canada this year, driven by high cattle prices, as well as more producers establishing new, higher-quality stands and exploring drought-tolerant varieties.
Of these, 69.5 percent identified as Metis, 26.2 percent as First Nations and 0.7 percent as Inuit.
As well, 70 percent are located in Western Canada, mostly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
The committee heard that most Indigenous farming operations are small-scale and designed to meet community needs and food security.
Witnesses identified difficulty with financing as one barrier to expansion. The Indian Act prevents those living on reserves from using assets for security. In some cases, band approval is required and not so easily obtained.
There is also trouble getting financing off-reserve due to low financial literacy and a lack of credit history.
The committee recommended that Indigenous financial institutions be given more resources and flexibility.
Other barriers include access to land, due to higher prices, and access to good quality infrastructure such as water and irrigation.
“It’s widely known that access to and utilization of technology by businesses are lower,” said Jamie Hall, general manager of the Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario. “Four in 10 Aboriginal businesses report that they have either no or unreliable Internet connection, whereas 81percent of farm operators report using the internet regularly for email, product information and research.”
Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, there is a five-year $5-million AgriDiversity program designed to increase participation by under-represented groups. So far, two Indigenous organizations have received funding: the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers and the Northern Farm Training Institute.
A five-year $8.5-million Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative has also been established.
Jane Taylor, assistant deputy minister, programs branch, at Agriculture Canada, said there are federal, provincial and territorial programs under the CAP.
“This is the first time this year that, across programs, there are federal programs specifically for Indigenous agriculture,” she said.
The committee made four other recommendations to the House of Commons:
- That the government recognize in its policies and programs the role of traditional and local food in supporting Indigenous community health, and the traditional importance of land.
- That the government consult Indigenous communities on better ways to provide financial support in the industry.
- That it collaborate with Indigenous people to develop food and nutrition policy.
- That the government make sure Indigenous communities are aware of export support to small businesses, such as those that might export traditional Indigenous products.
