Trades Training and Nourishing Our Roots

The Witset First Nation partnered with Tea Creek Farm to deliver trades training and food sovereignty initiatives with support from Kyah Development Corporation and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills . As a result, 2021 Tea Creek Farm became the farm’s first full year providing services and delivering results.

When potential trainees are considering the Tea Creek Indigenous training farm program in northwestern B.C., co-owner Jessica Ouellette encourages them to come for a tour because, “You may find your passion here,” she explains. One thing is for sure, Jessica and her family certainly have. 

Jessica, her husband Jacob Beaton and their sons Noah and Ezra originally started with a garden at their home in Hazelton before they decided they wanted more growing space. They found the 140-acre plot in Kitwanga to develop Tea Creek Enterprises, which they describe as an Indigenous-led, culturally safe, land-based Indigenous food sovereignty and training initiative. 

The Tea Creek model includes offering training in several areas that support Indigenous economies and food sovereignty. Therefore, in addition to developing their farm skills, trainees learn about cooking, administration, new media, and trades — including carpentry, auto mechanics, heavy equipment operation and agriculture equipment servicing.  

And, of course, there is the farming. With just under two acres in production, Jessica estimates that Tea Creek produced approximately 20,000 pounds of fresh vegetables in 2021. All that food was given away. Tea Creek provides breakfasts and lunches to participants, and they also send produce home with participants and guests as part of its initiative to introduce trainees and neighbours to healthy food by growing, harvesting and preparing it themselves. 

“We’re really passionate about creating communities and helping communities,” says Jessica. “This a natural fit for us and the passion we have for growing food.”

Trainees have found a similar enthusiasm for their work at Tea Creek. Julia Daniels of Gitanyow, for example, discovered a love for tractors — in particular Ruby, the farm’s 1952 vintage tractor. 

“I love to work on Ruby by myself,” she confides. “I just love mechanics. It’s pretty cool. I’m training for tractors and heavy-duty equipment, too.” 

For Sam Gosnell from Gitlaxt'aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh) in the Nass Valley, anything to do with gardening awakens his passion. 

“Bed flipping, seeding, transplanting, composting — there’s so much to learn here and it’s so enjoyable to do.”

Jessica says the pandemic underlined the need to revive local agriculture, which was once a central part of Indigenous life in the area. She describes the situation of empty store shelves and the difficulties with ordering food products online: “It really became obvious we really needed to build a larger group of people who have the skills needed for agriculture and to grow food locally.”

With three cohorts of graduates, Tea Creek is working toward that goal. In August 2021, 26 of the original participants graduated from the program ready to apply their new skills.  Sam, for example, plans to work in the greenhouse in Gitlaxt'aamiks and train others as well. 

“In our time now, we’re all online and on our phones and we don’t have that connection to the earth,” he explains. “When you come here you definitely feel some connection with the earth and planting in general. Our ancestors did it and it’s important that we do it as well.”

Interested in an agricultural career? There are a variety of roles and jobs available right now. Learn how to become an agricultural representative (NOC2123), service contractors (NOC8252) or even a manager (NOC0821) in the industry.

The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills  has invested $15 million to help Indigenous communities manage the economic impacts of COVID-19. The skills training funding goes to Indigenous training partners throughout B.C. to address COVID-19 recovery in the workforce.