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OPINION: ‘Cows and plows’ settlement over a broken Indigenous treaty shows the urgent need for more transparent governance

Members of the Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve (TTR) in Manitoba recently voted to ratify the Treaty 4 Agricultural Benefits Settlement Agreement. This cows-and-plows settlement is a step toward rectifying historical wrongs. The process has also highlighted several ongoing governing challenges. This includes exposing a flawed Crown/Indigenous consultation process as well as the need for trust-building with Indigenous leadership.



Canada, First Nations agree on unmet agricultural claims

Canada, First Nations agree on unmet agricultural claims

A handful of specific agricultural benefit claims between the federal government and nine First Nations were settled on Friday. Once fully settled, these claims—unmet promises in treaties 5, 6 and 10 territories throughout the Prairie provinces—will represent almost $1.4 billion in combined compensation to these First Nations.

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Canada, First Nations agree on unmet agricultural claims

A handful of specific agricultural benefit claims between the federal government and nine First Nations were settled on Friday. Once fully settled, these claims—unmet promises in treaties 5, 6 and 10 territories throughout the Prairie provinces—will represent almost $1.4 billion in combined compensation to these First Nations.



Mennonites disembark from a steamboat in in Manitoba in 1874.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: Did someone steal my land?

A Mennonite’s journey to square history, reconciliation and cultural snobbery

This story has been reposted in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. For more stories of Indigenous farming, food sovereignty, challenges and triumphs in the ongoing work of reconciliation, see our Truth and Reconciliation landing page. Whose land was this? As truth and reconciliation have come to the fore of public

Workers at Arctic Buying Company Kivalliq Inc. pack hampers that will be shipped up to Canada's north.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: Indigenous ag projects boosted

Provincial and federal governments investing $1.52 million into Indigenous-led agriculture projects totackle food insecurity.

Indigenous agricultural programs across Manitoba and Canada have received a funding boost of $1.52 million from the federal and provincial government under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.



 Children run through the pathways of a corn maze designed to honour children who died while attending residential schools. Photo: supplied

Every child matters

A corn maze commemorating the lost children is a place to reflect and remember

Children run through the pathways of a corn maze designed to honour children who died while attending residential schools.

Students from the File Hills and other residential schools were not only recruited to become model farmers, they were selected to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces sent off to fight in the First World War.  Photo: Courtesy of University of Regina archives “A Failed Experiment” Collection.

Reconciling the painful past creates hope for a more promising future

The File Hills Colony near Balcarres, Sask. epitomized everything that was wrong about colonial attitudes towards Indigenous peoples. But new models for Indigenous agriculture are emerging

More than a century after its creation, there is no visible sign remaining of the File Hills Farm Colony in southern Saskatchewan. But the painful memories of an experiment that epitomized the culture of assimilation permeating that era’s attitudes towards Canada’s Indigenous peoples still live in the collective memories of residential school survivors. Likewise for some of the racist attitudes and policies that still exist today.