Thunder Farms

Thunderchild First Nation

 

About Us

Thunder Farms Ltd based on the Thunderchild First Nation in west central Saskatchewan is a wholly owned First Nation company.  Thunderchild First Nation owns considerable agricultural land holdings, which it has, in the past, leased out to third parties on a cash rent basis.  The First Nation has identified an opportunity to farm the land themselves and the Nation has agreed that this is the strategic direction they wish to take.  Thunderchild First Nation has decided to run its farming operation as a separate entity called Thunder Farms.  It farms Reserve and TLE lands in the area. 

 

Thunder Farms has identified a management and labour team to meet the requirements of the farming operation.  Also, it has its own farm experienced Nation members who will provide additional labour.  Thunder Farms has put in place a board governance structure which the management reports to regularly.

 

Best practices

The company strives to develop good rapport, create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers, financial institutions, other interested First Nations, and applied indigenous customs and beliefs in its initial start-up and continues this in its operations.

 

Our People

“Thunderchild (also known as Peyasiw-Awasis or Kapitikow, Cree for “one who makes the sound”), Plains Cree chief (born 1849, likely along the South Saskatchewan River; died 29 June 1927 on the Thunderchild Reserve in Saskatchewan). Chief Thunderchild was a signatory to Treaty 6 in 1879. He was a strong defender of treaty rights and Indigenous land as well as traditional Cree lifeways. Thunderchild supported the right of every reserve on the Canadian Plains to have its own school.

 

Thunderchild’s reserve included some of the best farm land in the area. From 1902 onwards, rumours circulated that the Canadian government would sell it to settlers. After government officials and missionaries urged him to surrender the land in 1908, Thunderchild reluctantly agreed to negotiations. He voted to sell the reserve and use the proceeds to purchase land elsewhere.”

(Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thunderchild)

 

Many Band members speak Cree and the language is promoted and taught at the Piyesiw Awasis School.  The people in the community still practice and maintain their traditional customs and beliefs.

 

Photo Gallery

Mission

We protect and preserve our culture, lands and waters.

 

Farming Operations

Thunder Farms currently farms 8,000 acres north of North Battleford and east of Lloydminster.  Thunder Farms is planning to expand to approximately 10,000 acres.

The company utilizes a mixed farming model; purchases/leases new equipment, employees community members, at times hires custom farming companies, leases land from the First Nation and is governed by a Board of Directors. 

 

 

Crops

  • Wheat
  • Canola
  • Barley
  • Oats

 

Address

Derrick Meetoos., Manager

Thunder Farms

Box 600

Turtleford, Sask. S0M 2Y0

Tel: 1-306-441-5447

Fax: 

 

Contact             

John Noon, Chairman/President, Thunder Developments 306 845 7475