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By Angela Brown

Economic investment

New cattle company starting at Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation

May 13, 2021 | 4:57 PM

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — A new cattle operation will be starting at a local Battlefords area First Nation.

Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation [MGBHLM] Economic Development Corporation announced it is developing a new cow/calf operation on the MGBHLM First Nation reserve.

CEO Grant Beaudry said the operation, called Three Nations Cattle Company, will have a 160 cow herd.

“We took delivery of the first load two days ago [May 11], so the rest of the cattle will be arriving tomorrow [May 14],” he said. “We have a pre-lease agreement with the Nation. The company will be located on the reserve.”

The cattle are being raised for future production. There will also be an education component to the project.

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“It will be for building capacity for training with our younger generation, to show them how to run herds, for our younger membership, whoever is interested in cattle operations,” Beaudry said.

The operation will also help provide food sovereignty to the First Nation, so members then will have access to fresh beef through sustainable methods by having an agricultural service directly on the reserve.

Beaudry said the company is starting with running a cattle operation for the first time, and then in the future may be looking at introducing bison into the production stream.

The cow/calf operation will be located on the North side of the reserve on what is known as Eaton’s pasture.

The business will be owned and operated by MGBHLM Economic Development Corp. in partnership with MGBHLM First Nation.

“We are always looking for economic development; we’re always looking for partnerships,” Beaudry said.

MGBHLM Economic Development Corp. Finance Officer and HR Manager Cheryl Starr is also excited about the project.

“It’s a good opportunity for economic development because we are employing more people,” she said.

Positions will be available for cattle ranch helpers who will be able to learn first-hand from the cattle operation manager, Charles Stone, who has been in the industry for many years.

Starr said Stone has agreed to stay on for a one-year term, and train anyone on the First Nation who is interested and wants to get into the cattle business.

“We actually have a couple Nation members who are taking the Lands Management Program, who could utilize their training in the lands program, so maybe purchase more land, either for more pasture, more cattle, or for farming,” she said.

Starr added there is also a butcher shop site that will be available in the future on the First Nation property known as the Ridge, located South of Battleford. So that would also help for potentially a future program to provide training and employment on the business end of meat production.

“That will be part of the food sustainability,” Starr said. “It will create more employment, and more training—all within the cattle program and our training centre. They have lots of opportunities here.”

MGBHLM First Nation Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman is also thrilled with the new cattle company starting up.

“It’s an opportunity for capacity building for our next generation that are interested in becoming cattle operators,” she said.

She mentioned that four band members have also been in the cattle operation side of agriculture for several years and are knowledgeable about the industry.

“We have consulted with those individuals in making this a reality, getting their expertise, advice and direction,” Aguilar-Antiman said. “So it’s a huge mentorship program.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow