The Six Nations Farmers Association is on a mission, a mission to have Six Nations agriculturally independent.

Former President Jesse Porter is a farmer on Six Nations. He and others want a sustainable community solution to the off reserve buying of many local food products. It’s not a new idea, several people have tried to open a grocery store in the community but have failed. Roughly $45M leaves the reserve in leakage due to off reserve food purchases each year.

Porter says that an independent survey by the Six Nations Food Sustainability Food Security Task Force shows that the community wants a store that is not owned by an individual, but community driven.

On Thursday, December 1st, the Six Nations Farmer’s Association held its Agricultural Christmas event at the Six Nations Community Hall. They also reported to the community from the Six Nations Food Sustainability and Food Security Task Force. The report and the event were part of being transparent and sharing their progress on the way to creating this new sustainable agriculture project.

The Farmer’s Association goal is to build the necessary sustainable agricultural needs for the Six Nations community and establish a resource centre and grocery store on the territory.

David Moses met with Jesse Porter in the conversation below.