The Canim Lake Band has a five-year sustainability plan and the federal government bought into that plan June 25.

Cathy McLeod, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP, announced more than $243,000 in Western Economic Diversification money for three separate projects on behalf of Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

McLeod said the money will help the band deal with the effects of the mountain pine beetle.

“Back east they hear about the pine beetle but it’s not until you drive through that you recognize the huge impact this has had on our landscape and the epidemic in our forest,” she said.

The band is going to develop and implement a regional agriculture demonstration project with $112,500.

This project is to cultivate vegetables and value-added products; and construct fencing, a greenhouse and an irrigation system.

The band will also host workshops to share the project results with other First Nations groups and educate local youth on the initiative.

Another $95,000 is for the band to plan for a community forest licence including feasibility, business and stewardship plans.

McLeod said the project will strengthen the band’s long-term opportunities.

A tourism and recreation feasibility study will include a market analysis, recreation opportunity analysis and proposed management plan for a total of $36,000.

“These three projects hopefully support the long-term stability and economic growth and diversification for the band,” said McLeod.

Chief Mike Archie said the funding will help the band deal with the impact of the mountain pine beetle.

He said the beetle epidemic has altered the band members’ ability to continue the past lifestyle.

“As hunters and gatherers, the people of the Canim Lake Band continue to rely on the forest for their traditional food and medicine gathering,” he said.

Archie said the band is at the stage of looking at the land and how these developments will take place and how it will benefit the community and their people in the future.

“With this in mind, we’ve developed several projects that will enhance our ability to become more sustainable,” he said.

“What’s really great about the Canim Lake project is it’s laddering to a future — really a foundation — for a number of areas that are important to them and creating an economic future,” said McLeod.

Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, said she was very pleased with the announcement, which came two years after the applications.

“For Canim Lake this is great news. They have a wonderful agriculture program out there and anybody that hasn’t gone out and seen their garden and their productivity should go out and have a look,” she said.

Barnett said their potato crop last year was just incredible.

“I think you’ll see nothing but good economic gains from them obtaining the funding,” she said.

Jesse Archie, agriculture coordinator, said the band already sells a lot of their produce and anyone interested can call the band office at 250-397-2227.