With the goal of enhancing food security for Indigenous people, two First Nation communities in Saskatchewan are building aquaponics greenhouse facilities.
"Aquaponics is kind of two businesses within one. It's aquaculture, which is fish farming, and hydroponics, which is growing plants without soil, you're growing plants in water," explained Shane Bellegarde, the CEO of Wakayos Developments.
There will be two facilities, one located at Little Black Bear's Band of Cree and Assiniboine Nations and the other on Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation, where both will produce fresh fish and vegetables. "We'll be raising steelhead [fish] from hatchlings," Bellegarde explained.
"It takes 16 months from hatchlings to be big enough to go on your plate and during that time, we'll be using all of their waste water as fertilizer for all these plants on the other side. It's a great way to feed our community and employ our community." Aside from promoting sustainable food production, Bellegarde points out that the new development will also create economic opportunities for both nations.
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