On Monday (Oct 7) at the Keeseekoose Band Office, the Keeseekoose First Nation and Suncrest College reaffirmed its partnership with the signing of a Research Collaboration Agreement.
The agreement looks to re-start the efforts to create a smart farm at Keeseekoose First Nation. The nation will begin farming their own land and Suncrest is there to support this effort with training and as a location for testing and demonstrating new agricultural technologies.
"Over the long-term, we hope that this project will provide viable agriculture and careers to band members while also generating consistent economic benefits from an active farming operation managed & operated by the Keeseekoose First Nation," stated Greg Tomcala, Suncrest College Applied Research Coordinator.
In May, Suncrest College was awarded an Education for Sustainable Development for its work on the Keeseekoose First Nation, creating an employment-focused program with a finished product including a greenhouse for the Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre, as well as the community itself.
The College values its partnership with Keeseekoose and hopes to continue to work with the First Nation into the future. The research aspects are also supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
