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Category: Local Economic Development

Greenhouse and Soil-Based Eco-Agriculture in Kanesatake

Grandir Ensemble, an economic development project geared towards food self-sufficiency, came to life in Kanesatake last March. The project aims at achieving food self-sufficiency in the community and has a vision of internal and external reconciliation among community members.

Interview with Manon Jeannotte, Business Strategy Development Consultant for Kanesatake.

Karyn Murray is the coordinator of the Grandir Ensemble garden. Ms. Murray’s family, who is also involved in the project, has generously offered two parcels of their land to the Kanesatake Band Council so that the garden could be grown directly in the community. Plot C has 30 rows of 100 feet each, plot B will be used for continuous seeding and 10 rows of 100 feet each will be used for garlic.

Karyn is also responsible for the elders’ garden, located directly on the grounds of the Kanesatake elders’ home.

Vegetable farming to serve the community

The initiators of the project have the shared desire to increase community skills in vegetable farming, to provide elders and all community members with fresh home-grown produce, and to create an economically sustainable development project.

Greenhouse and Soil-Based Eco-Agriculture in Kanesatake          Greenhouse and Soil-Based Eco-Agriculture in Kanesatake          Greenhouse and Soil-Based Eco-Agriculture in Kanesatake

The produce will be sold first to Kanesata’kehró:non (community residents) and will then be available at a kiosk at the public market.

Ms. Jeannotte told us it would be a good idea for First Nations to achieve co-operation in vegetable farming. “We would like to inspire other Indigenous communities to follow our lead and work together toward achieving self-sufficiency among our nations on our traditional lands.”

Three women from Kanesatake took part in the 2021 StartUP Nations Ikwe path organized by the FNQLEDC last spring. They won the “Pitch Effectiveness” special mention at the closing ceremony held on May 31. Ms. Jeannotte explained that she is willing to assist them in setting up their project in the community.

In closing, we can follow the example of this promising and innovative project that will provide fruit, vegetables and more to support the health of our people and ensure quality food is available to them. We are crossing our fingers for the best possible weather conditions so the community can reap the abundant fruit of their efforts.

Further information on the Mohawk community of Kanesatake can be found at kanesatake.ca.

To discover other local economic development projects and initiatives, we invite you to visit our local economic development section.

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In 2023, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) awarded eleven (11) Nikanewin Bursaries of $2,500 in addition to one $5,000 Bursary. These grants were awarded specifically to First Nations people aged 18 and over living in Quebec (inside or outside the communities) who have a business project in mind and want to take action. Today, we present to you one of the recipients of the 2023 edition, Ms. Lily Duchesneau, and her Hutte de médecine étoilée (starry medicine hut) project.

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