A new aquaponics facility in Curve Lake First Nation is not only increasing food sovereignty for members of the Indigenous community but is also supporting economic growth by making its products available to the wider region and beyond.
The band-owned and operated Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan — Anishinaabemowin for “New Beginnings Farm” — is a new farming facility that combines aquaculture (farming of aquatic animals like fish) and hydroponics (cultivating plants in water).
The 45,000-square-foot facility at Curve Lake First Nation, which is located adjacent to Selwyn Township in Peterborough County, houses both hydroponics and aquaculture systems and follows a “zero discharge” practice with minimal water consumption.
“We see more and more First Nations communities looking at developing their own food production systems,” says interim general manager Gary Chapman. “We have to do something for rural communities that don’t have access to high-quality food on a regular basis, so why not produce it ourselves? At the same time, we’re selling to local stores and regions, so they have the ability to expand our market.”
The project was launched in 2019 by Mindy Knott, a Curve Lake First Nation councillor who is now also chair of the board of directors for SMG Aquaponics Corp, a corporation wholly owned by Curve Lake First Nation with a mandate to operate Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan.
After a feasibility study was completed, the community began raising money to acquire aquaponics equipment and build the facility, which includes a retail store where food can be purchased. Visitors to the facility can also watch the farming process and learn more about aquaponics.
Now fully operational, Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan has been selling lettuce, dill, spring mix, basil, spinach, and other produce since early spring. The aquaponics facility is also working on a vine crop system that will support the growth of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers year-round.
On the aquaculture side, Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan is farming tilapia, a freshwater fish native to Africa with mild-flavoured, white, and moist flesh that is an excellent source of protein, Vitamin B-12, and niacin. The tilapia, which takes up to nine months to raise, will be available in August. Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan has already begun forming partnerships with large wholesale fish markets as far at the GTA.
In addition to supporting food sovereignty in Curve Lake First Nation, Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan is distributing its produce to local wholesale buyers including grocery stores and through Graze & Gather, an online farmers’ market.
Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan is also interested in participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, an economic development initiative from Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the City of Peterborough. Graze & Gather is delivering the program’s Green Circle Food Hub, which connects food producers like Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan with wholesale buyers including restaurants, resorts, and golf clubs.
“We’re very eager to be a part of that,” Chapman says. “Communication and cooperation is the only way for all these smaller local producers to work together. Curve Lake is very open with what we’re doing to help other people.”
Curve Lake First Nation will be officially celebrating the grand opening of Shki Maajitaawin Gitigaanan with a ceremony on Thursday, July 9 at 1:30 p.m.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series celebrating the farmers, food producers, food retailers, and agri-tourism businesses that make The Kawarthas thrive, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
Agriculture is a key economic driver and a point of pride for Peterborough County, with local farms producing a wide variety of high-quality goods, from traditional crops and livestock to organic and specialty products, reflecting the strength and diversity of this vital sector. With a growing focus on sustainability, local food systems, agri-innovation, and agri-tourism, agriculture offers strong potential for growth and diversification.
The Local Advantage with Peterborough County series spotlights the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale initiatives, which aim to strengthen connections from farm to table across our region.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
