About FNAA

Our Mission

"Providing Agricultural Credit to the Aboriginal Farmers of British Columbia."

Throughout the past century, and previously, agriculture has been an important part of the way of life of First Nations peoples in British Columbia. Today, native-run farms exist in every farming region of the province. Working for the most part on reserve lands, First Nation farmers as a group participate in a wide range of sectors, from cattle ranching in the Interior, to grape growing in the Okanagan and organic market gardening in the Fraser Valley and on the coast. Although still small relative to the total size of British Columbia's agricultural industry, the First Nations farming component has experienced significant growth within the last decade, and in terms of efficiency and quality of output, the farming operations are second to none.

Among the challenges that First Nations farmers face is access to capital. This problem is embedded in the unique legal and fiduciary relationship that First Nations have with the Crown. Without adequate access to capital, many First Nations face the difficulties generally associated with under-development. Indeed, one of the primary reasons for starting the First Nations Agricultural Lending Association (FNALA) in 1988, was to help First Nations access capital that they might not otherwise have been able to access.

Recognizing that First Nations farmers need access to financing on terms other than those traditionally provided by the financial services industry, FNALA was formed to provide financing for First Nations agricultural producers. In addition to direct financing operations, FNALA is also involved in the following core related activities, all designed to increase the impact of the financing operation:

Increase Association lending activity by general promotion to First Nations people about agriculture and its economic and social opportunities;

Foster and encourage the overall economic and social well-being of First Nations farmers.

The financing is provided under a loan program made possible by the First Nations Capital Corporation (ACC) Program of Industry, Science and Technology Canada. FNALA offers loans for agricultural businesses. It also offers the First Citizen's Fund loans. Both on-reserve and off-reserve projects are eligible for the FNALA loans.

Executive Board of Directors:

President

Harold Aljam

Merritt/Nicola Region Representative

Vice President

Robert Mero

Prince George West Representative

Treasurer

Robert Atwood

Okanagan Representative

Secretary

Ryan Laffrenere

Kamloops/Thompson Representative

Directors:

Joseph Norris
Lower Mainland/ Vancouver Island Representative

Corrie Walkley
Kootenay Region Representative

David Seta
Cariboo/Chilcotin Region Representative

Advisors:

Jammi Kumar P.Ag

David Zirnhelt MA Pol. Sc.

Warren Hannay