Grainswest - Fall 2024

Fall 2024 Grains West 42 FEATURE and environmental science programs and is its ag research and curriculum co-ordinator. He designed the school’s agriculture program and heads the field plot project, which is funded by Results Driven Agriculture Research. The two- year, multi-layered study includes the rotation of wheat varieties commonly grown in the area—AAC Brandon, AAC Penhold and AAC Stronghold. Rotations to be studied also include the Sangre potato and lupin. A legume, the latter is being studied for its potential as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop and high- fibre, high-protein food source. The project will also assess the use of nitrogen fertilizer in the form of rock phosphate, triple super-phosphate and urea, as well as the use of biochar, with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NO2 and CO2 emissions are being measured, as are crop quality, yield and financial return, with an eye on sustainability and the establishment of practices best suited to Kainai land. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Thirty-two students are enrolled in RCCC agriculture courses. “We established the program to teach students the best management practices,” said Onanuga. While it aims to make individual graduates employable, strengthening the community is also a goal. Crop and livestock production for the commodity market and on-reserve consumption are program fundamentals. All RCCC students are now Kainai, but the school is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadian students. Most current students have crop and livestock production in their family background and may have inherited the use of community land. Students who need high school upgrading courses to register for RCCC can enroll at the Stand Off campus and the College’s satellite facility in Lethbridge. To assist with the expense of tuition, books and supplies, students are eligible to receive financial aid provided by the Blood Tribe. First year, first semester students are given a comprehensive introduction to agriculture. The semester covers accounting, business administration, crop and livestock production and plant science. The second semester offers a choice of courses such as animal nutrition, integrated pest management, mechanization and statistics. This year, certificate coursework will be followed by a paid summer internship with the school’s agriculture research department. In future, internships will be offered in a wide variety of corporate and government settings, local tribal departments and Kainai Forage, the Nation’s hay processing plant. The second-year diploma offers three stream options that include agribusiness, agronomy, which covers crop and soil science, and, thirdly, animal science. Jobs await graduates, Onanuga emphasized, and job search resources are available from Blood Tribe Employment Services and Training. “Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy; it is very lucrative and there is a shortage of labour in the industry. It will provide them with job opportunities.” Graduates work at Kainai Forage and are employed by companies and organizations on and off the reserve or have established their own farming businesses. INDIGENIZED AG The RCCC agriculture curriculum follows national standards, approved by the Alberta Institute of Agrologists but is unique in that it offers indigenized programs. While students earn their professional credentials, their education is further enriched with traditional knowledge imparted by Blackfoot elders. In a crop science class, students may learn the botanical nomenclature as well as Indigenous names of various crops. They may also learn of cultural practices associated with livestock production. Outside class, on-campus cultural activities include activities such as sweat lodge ceremonies. Now enrolled in the diploma program, 28-year-old Kiefer Eagle Bear previously completed his certificate at RCCC the second year it was offered. He spoke with GrainsWest in the sunny, spacious atrium of the main building, which houses a full-sized teepee. “It gave me a good inside look at what farming is all about,” he said. In the past, his family farmed grain, in part to put food on the table. A former security professional, he was drawn to the program’s emphasis on hands-on learning, and particularly enjoyed his crop production course. “It taught me a lot.” He was partway through his subsequent diploma year at Olds College when he withdrew to care for his ailing mother. He had intended to eventually complete the program in Olds, and when it became available in his home community, he immediately signed up. He believes more certificate holders will likewise enroll in the diploma program because it is offered locally. He would like to take further post-secondary studies once he earns his diploma. Proof the RCCC program creates opportunity, he has already been offered post-graduation employment by a relative who is a grain farmer. “ With our agriculture program, we’re elevating our students and our community. ” — Roy Weasel Fat