WHO ARE WE?

It is essential to ensure capacity exists within First Nations to excel in the agricultural industry with culturally appropriate and respectful training.

The Aboriginal Agricultural Education Society of British Columbia (AAESBC) is a charity that was created in April 27, 2005 in an effort to provide practical hands on agricultural training services to First Nations and other students in BC.

In 2007 a BC wide survey was administered to Aboriginal Farmers, Land Managers and Economic Development Officers to determine what support is needed to build agricultural capacity within the First Nations. The results from the survey indicated Aboriginal people in BC are interested in agriculture but lack the necessary hands on training and ongoing support. There was high level of interest in AAESBC providing mobile workshops with 91% of the respondents answering this question. Of those respondents who were interested in training- 13.2% were interested in marketing, 11.9% horticulture, 11.9% range management, herd health 11.4%, 11.4% natural production.

The mandate of the society is to promote and teach environmentally friendly (green) farming practices:

• Land & Environmental stewardship
  
• Omission of herbicides and pesticides
  
• Natural food production
  
• Environmental farm planning
  
• Encouraging youth to enter into agriculture
  
• Promoting the green emerging marketplace
  
• Providing mobile workshops

A small board of Directors governs the society with expertise in agriculture, education, legal and finance.

• 2 Directors in Kamloops
  
• 1 Director in Quesnel
  
• 1 Director in Merritt
  
• 1 Director on Vancouver Island

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

7410 Dallas Drive Kamloops BC

MAILING ADDRESS

PO Box 1186 Station Main, Kamloops, BC V2C 6H3.

Telephone: 778.469.5040 Fax: 778.469.5030

Email: info@aaesbc.ca