Evidence of meeting #126 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Thank you, Mr. Breton.
Mr. Poissant, you have just a few minutes, because we need five minutes for committee business.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Kahnawake is in my riding, La Prairie. How did we go from a thousand indigenous farmers to just five or six?
Director, Agricultural Society for Indigenous Food Products
That, too, is a good question.
There is no doubt that the appetite was there. It was a matter of assistance. Indigenous farming suffered the effects of residential schools, acculturation and oppression. We didn't have anyone advocating for us to seek out assistance or government programs. It's an issue that would certainly make for a good study.
The fact remains: in 1910, there were more than a thousand indigenous farmers, and today, there are just five or six. It's not due to a lack of interest, on the contrary. Recently, some traditional lands have been reclaimed. Young families are extremely keen to be farmers, even squatting on land to do so, without an agreement with the band council. It's on a small scale, but they are trying to make it.
Figuring out whether it involves Indian or non-Indian governance is problematic, not to mention what people think. There's a huge appetite, but it's really tough to answer such a complex question in two minutes.
Nevertheless, the facts are the facts. It doesn't make sense that the Odanak Abenakis had more than 2,000 cattle at the beginning of the last century, but have none today. The reason isn't that they don't want to farm. The story is more or less the same in Kanesatake and all over the place.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
I have one last question.
The UPA came up earlier. I was a member for 20 years.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
I know that, when organizations or producers approach the UPA, they are often allowed to join. I don't know whether your organization has enough indigenous producers. Show the UPA your product.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
I just want to tell you that those at the UPA are open to hearing what people have to say.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Unfortunately, that's all the time we have.
Thank you all for your passion and your vision of agriculture.
We will take a one-minute break and resume in camera to discuss committee business.
I would now ask the witnesses to take their leave as quickly as possible.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera ]
