New Program to Help First Nations Youth

Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman today outlined details of the First Nations Youth Education Program at a news conference at the Pasqua First Nation.

The First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan (FNACS) has received a $115,000 grant from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food to develop, co-ordinate and implement a youth strategy to encourage participation of First Nations youth in the province's agriculture industry.

"This project began with our desire to help First Nations youth participate in agriculture and its related sectors," Wartman said. "It is another example of our government's commitment to working with the First Nations community."

A classroom pilot project will be launched this fall targeting students in Grades 4-6 in about a dozen First Nations schools. In addition, the First Nations Youth Education Program will promote the Youth Livestock Program within the First Nations community and provide information sessions on developing agricultural co-operatives.

"This project provides a framework that will definitely help First Nations youth," FNACS president Lester Lafond said. "We're confident we can achieve our goals which will translate into more First Nations Youth opting for careers in agriculture."

"I'm confident today's announcement is the beginning of great things to come for agriculture, for First Nations youth and for our province," Wartman said.

FNACS was created as a result of a task force launched in 2002 by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which examines ways to work with the province to improve the knowledge about agriculture among First Nations youth. FNACS is a not-for-profit organization that serves the 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.