Saskatchewan Wild Rice: A Community Collaboration

THE FEDERATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN NATIONS (SASKATCHEWAN)

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) represents 72 First Nations in that province including Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine, Dakota/Sioux and Dene/Chipewayan. The FSIN helps with economic development. One of the economic development plans is the Saskatchewan Indian Agriculture Program (SIAP).

SIAP helps Indigenous farmers in the province. The program has helped the wild rice industry in Northern Saskatchewan. Wild rice is a traditional food of plains people. It grows in cold water lakes, rivers and streams.

SIAP helps Indigenous farmers harvest their wild rice. This has helped make two Saskatchewan-based businesses, one that processes the rice and one that sells it. The money these businesses make usually comes back into the community through jobs.