Cowessess First Nation: Building a Bright Future Through Agriculture

On June 24, 2024, members of the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food (NCIAF) travelled to Cowessess First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan—an Indigenous community that is not only reclaiming its connection to the land but also leading innovation in agriculture, sustainability, and cultural revitalization.

The NCIAF team included Communications Specialist, Justice Acoose, Business Development Associate, Michael Burechailo, and filmmaker Robert Maxwell of Digital Peasant Media, a longtime collaborator known for his inspiring visual storytelling. Their goal was to document Cowessess’ continued progress toward self-sufficiency—capturing both the technical and cultural work underway at 4C Farms and the Cowessess Cultural Grounds.

Guided by NCIAF ReconciliAG, Advisor Terry Lerat, the team began their visit at the Cultural Grounds, where the forest opens into a tranquil clearing currently being shaped into a community healing space. Sweats, tipi platforms, and winter structures are under construction, with plans for gatherings, teachings, and ceremony already taking form. Though early in its development, the site carries a deep spiritual weight. It represents more than just a place for community events—it reflects their vision of cultural reconnection, identity restoration, and intergenerational healing, rooted in land-based practices.

The visuals captured in the video are quiet yet powerful. Drone footage shows the gentle movement of trees and sky surrounding the clearing, while interviews reflect the emotional and cultural importance of creating space for ceremony and community in a time of rebuilding and resurgence. This effort, like many across Indigenous communities, speaks to a future shaped not by extraction, but by care, reflection, and cultural leadership.

The visit then shifted to Cowessess Community Cattle Company (4C Farms)—a large-scale Indigenous-led agricultural operation. The farm, visible from the road with its organized rows of grain bins and equipment, operates with a unique vision. While it i’s a working farm that grows grains and raises cattle, it was founded with a broader community purpose. The name “4C” reflects a vision rooted in collective benefit. Their goal is to build up a strong herd of cattle to allow for a rotation program where 4–6 cows are passed on to Cowessess members interested in starting their own herds. Every five years, those cows would rotate to another household, supporting new farmers and building community wealth from within.

It’s a creative and long-term model—part agricultural business, part mentorship network. Alongside livestock, the farm offers youth employment and technical training in mechanics, operations, and business development. Many of the workers featured in the film are young community members speaking confidently about their roles in running machinery, repairing equipment, and contributing to the farm’s future. Their voices echo a shared message: this is work that matters—not only to them personally, but to the future of the community.

As the camera moves through the bin yard, down dusty laneways and into machine sheds, the pride is evident. This isn’t just a farm—it’s a statement. It says that Indigenous communities have the tools, the vision, and the knowledge to feed themselves, employ their people, and grow sustainably on their own terms. “In the past, agriculture was something done to us,” says Terry Lerat in one of the interviews. “Now, it’s something for us and by us.”

The following day, additional NCIAF staff joined the project to assist with filming and continue building relationships on the ground. The second day brought more dialogue, more storytelling, and a reaffirmation of why this work matters. Filming didn’t just capture facts—it captured feeling. The feeling of standing in a space made for ceremony. The sound of machinery humming against the prairie sky. The laughter of youth on a job site where they envision themselves working as our next generation of farmers. These moments, when woven together, offer a glimpse into what Indigenous self-determination looks like: not a theory, but a lived experience, unfolding acre by acre.

For the NCIAF, the visit to Cowessess First Nation was about more than collecting footage—it was about witnessing the results of Indigenous leadership in action. With a strong foundation in culture, a future-oriented farming operation, and a commitment to youth, Cowessess is showing what’s possible when communities are given the space to lead with their own values. They are not only planting crops—they are planting systems of care, self-determination, and prosperity.

The film created from this visit, Rooted in the Land: Cowessess and 4C Farms, is now available online. It is a powerful, intimate portrait of a community shaping its own future—one that will inspire others across the Prairies and beyond. In a time when many rural communities are grappling with change, Cowessess offers a reminder that the most resilient models grow from within.

Check out the video below: