A site proposal for the community garden development in Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation (supplied photo/Meadow Lake Tribal Council)

By Elliott Knopp

Request for Proposal

Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation seeking contractors for local agriculture development

Jul 27, 2021 | 1:36 PM

One of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council’s (MLTC) member nations has recently been awarded financial assistance to help with the development of an agriculture project that would provide the community with a local food source.

Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation is now accepting proposals from contractors that can develop the project. The plan includes the construction of a greenhouse, an orchard and a gardening space. There are also some spaces in the blueprints meant to be developed into public gathering spaces.

Tammy Shakotko, MLTC Community Dietician, said while the community garden-like project is a nice addition to the community, it also serves to secure access to food sources.

“It’s really an exciting project, because the local food infrastructure fund is specific to helping communities create infrastructure that will help support food security and access to food and communities which is just wonderful,” Shakotko said. “It’s the first that I’ve heard of in this area, and for the MLTC, it’s a real model as to how funds like this can be used.

“The orchard is a really interesting component of it. They’re hoping to have raspberry bushes, cherries, apples and just things that would grow nicely in that area. So that’ll be their’s for years to come. Those plantings will be producing fruit for the community use.”

Court

Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon

9h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

Dec 14, 2024

Missing person

UPDATE: Missing teen returns home

Dec 14, 2024

With the request for proposals now open, the MLTC is seeking a contractor who can take care of all of the earthwork, site preparation, fence acquisition and installation, greenhouse supply and installation, orchard installation and water access and installation, as mentioned in the MLTC document.

The plan is said to have been crafted with assistance of horticulture specialists that made recommendations regarding what items would fit well in each area of the site. While there is a site plan in place, the MLTC is welcoming expert advice on how to go about the project’s development.

Several key deadlines are highlighted in the early part of the request for proposal, including the last opportunity for submissions of proposal (Aug. 16, 2021 at 3 p.m.) and the projected start date (Aug. 23, 2021).

The request for proposal can be found on the MLTC website. Any inquiries can be made by contacting Millie Campbell, the MLTC Community Health Director, by fax at 1-306-236-6485, or through email at millie1.garcelon@mltc.net.

—

elliottknopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp