Noble Premium Bison and the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food (NCIAF) have entered into a multi-year partnership aimed at expanding Indigenous participation in Canada’s bison industry.
Through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding, the organizations will work together to create opportunities in bison production, producer mentorship, market development, procurement, value-added processing, and product innovation.
The collaboration will also explore research initiatives, food security programs, and the development of domestic and international markets for Indigenous-produced bison. NCIAF will help connect Indigenous communities, producers, and businesses with opportunities in the sector, while Noble Premium Bison will provide expertise in production, processing, and marketing.
"Our relationship with buffalo goes far beyond agriculture," said Kallie Wood, President and CEO of NCIAF. "By working with Noble Premium Bison, we can help create pathways for Indigenous producers and communities to build capacity, access markets and grow sustainable bison enterprises while strengthening the cultural connection to buffalo."
The partnership combines NCIAF’s community knowledge with Noble’s experience across the commercial bison value chain.
"There's a lot of opportunity to grow the Canadian bison industry, and Indigenous producers can be an important part of that growth," said Kelly Long, CEO and co-founder of Noble Premium Bison.
"Our job at Noble is to build markets and connect producers to those markets. Working with NCIAF gives us an opportunity to share what we know, learn from Indigenous producers and communities, and open more doors for participation in the bison industry," Long added.
Together, the organizations aim to support economic growth, strengthen Indigenous participation, and honour the cultural significance of buffalo across Canada.