The image of a typical farmer down through our national mythology , is not that of an investment banker in a suit . Nor is it a native in traditional dress, but last March in Saskatoon the two meet . The bankers and investment people of Bay Street , along with a group of Indian Chiefs from Sask and Alberta . There to form the unlikely marriage which for one will make them the most influential farmers in Canada .
Under this plan 17 bands will lease out there land to one mega corporation called One Earth Farms , which will focus on sustainable environmentally responsible uses for the land . All 1 million acres of it . While doing this hiring and training aboriginal workers to provide Native people a equity stake in the company.
This project is being funded with a 27 million dollar investment by the Toronto based Sprott Resources Corp . The founder an investment guru Eric Sprott will also donate 1 million to the University Of Saskatchewan to create a scholarship for aboriginal student who take Agriculture related studies .
These farms will be spread in pods of 20 thousand acres across huge territories , and will be complete operations Cattle oilseed and Grain cultivation . The 17 bands involved have all signed letters of intent with One Earth Incorporate , but not all of the 1 million acres will be signed over the first year. Still with the largest farms being 20 thousand acres this will make One Earth the largest player in the countries 40 billion farm industry .
Bands from Manitoba and BC are eager to sign on to the plan to this venture could easily double in size. Most of the land in the project is already used in farming .
Agriculture has always been mentioned in the Numbered Treaties signed by the Crown , this is a continuum of the native agriculture ambition . They were not allowed to use modern farming equipment and were slowly forced out . They were also not allowed to sell their products on the open market , and were restricted to peasant farming . This exclusion continues today as most bands lease land to non native farmers , rather then work it them selves .
It is a policy which has contributed to record high unemployment on the reserves, to this day , as few aboriginals are employed in the farm sector . In doing some research for this venture I have found that some natives were paid 9 dollars rent an acre where the going rate was 60 dollars. Chief Dale Awasis of the Saskatchewan Thunderchild First Nation said he will sign over 56 thousand acres to One Earth
He has been renting land for years but was never happy with the way it was taken care of , a lot of us are economically deprived . Individually we have had a hard time to start projects in the past the Chief said . Most say Indians can't do it well Iam pretty versed at proving them wrong .
In closing it has been a pleasure to be involved in this research for the good of the Native Community . And to see the leadership shown by Sprott Corporation .
Under this plan 17 bands will lease out there land to one mega corporation called One Earth Farms , which will focus on sustainable environmentally responsible uses for the land . All 1 million acres of it . While doing this hiring and training aboriginal workers to provide Native people a equity stake in the company.
This project is being funded with a 27 million dollar investment by the Toronto based Sprott Resources Corp . The founder an investment guru Eric Sprott will also donate 1 million to the University Of Saskatchewan to create a scholarship for aboriginal student who take Agriculture related studies .
These farms will be spread in pods of 20 thousand acres across huge territories , and will be complete operations Cattle oilseed and Grain cultivation . The 17 bands involved have all signed letters of intent with One Earth Incorporate , but not all of the 1 million acres will be signed over the first year. Still with the largest farms being 20 thousand acres this will make One Earth the largest player in the countries 40 billion farm industry .
Bands from Manitoba and BC are eager to sign on to the plan to this venture could easily double in size. Most of the land in the project is already used in farming .
Agriculture has always been mentioned in the Numbered Treaties signed by the Crown , this is a continuum of the native agriculture ambition . They were not allowed to use modern farming equipment and were slowly forced out . They were also not allowed to sell their products on the open market , and were restricted to peasant farming . This exclusion continues today as most bands lease land to non native farmers , rather then work it them selves .
It is a policy which has contributed to record high unemployment on the reserves, to this day , as few aboriginals are employed in the farm sector . In doing some research for this venture I have found that some natives were paid 9 dollars rent an acre where the going rate was 60 dollars. Chief Dale Awasis of the Saskatchewan Thunderchild First Nation said he will sign over 56 thousand acres to One Earth
He has been renting land for years but was never happy with the way it was taken care of , a lot of us are economically deprived . Individually we have had a hard time to start projects in the past the Chief said . Most say Indians can't do it well Iam pretty versed at proving them wrong .
In closing it has been a pleasure to be involved in this research for the good of the Native Community . And to see the leadership shown by Sprott Corporation .
