Online wild rice store keeps value in SK northwest
- Advertorial | December 17, 2020
NWC Wild Rice Co. proudly announces the launch of their online store at www.nwcwildrice.ca.
NWC Wild Rice is 100% Indigenous owned and operated, offering a certified organic premium product. It is a beautiful food, harvested by Métis, Cree and Dene harvesters from the pristine waters of North West Saskatchewan.
“The purpose of NWC Wild Rice Company is to enhance the ability of Métis and First Nations wild rice harvesters to own larger portions of the industry,” says Napoleon Gardiner, CEO of NWC Wild Rice. “Instead of having the value of our work and land exported out of our communities, the NWC Wild Rice company keeps that value in Saskatchewan’s North West, giving us more pride and dignity, and the ability to support our families and each other.”
NWC Wild Rice relies on the Harvesters’ dedication and skill. They spend summers monitoring the plants in remote streams and bays, and when it’s time to harvest the wild rice grain, the work demands their physical strength, and their knowledge of technology, equipment, water levels, climate, weather patterns, and nature.
“We fell in love with wild rice harvesting, and we’ve been doing it for 25 years together. We still love it today!” say Beauval-based Harvesters and family-owned business partners, Bruce and Judy Roy. “Working with NWC is working with our own people, it makes us so proud to have something we can call our own. It’s a good way to take care of our families, communities, and the land and water.”
The company is also supporting research and development of new airboat technology and will soon begin offering annual scholarships to the Harvesters’ families.
“Wild rice is one of my go-to Saskatchewan grown ingredients,” says Chef Jenni, the well-known Métis culinary consultant. “The smell of it cooking brings back memories of growing up by a small lake in Saskatchewan’s boreal forest. Whether I’m popping it for a crunchy addition to a salad or simply enjoying a bowl of it drizzled with oil and tossed with salt and pepper, I know I’m being nourished while contributing to the economic success of the North.”
“We are proud to share our beautiful food with you. We hope it nourishes you, makes you happy, and brings you good health,” says Harvester Dennis Favel of Ile a la Crosse.
NWC Wild Rice can be purchased online now at www.nwcwildrice.ca.