BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Native American tribe in North Dakota is embarking on a new project to grow lettuce in a massive greenhouse complex. This greenhouse, once completed, will be one of the largest in the country. It will enable the tribe to produce a significant amount of its own food, decades after a federal dam flooded their ancestral lands where they used to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash.
The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation’s greenhouse project covers 3.3 acres in its initial phase, known as the Native Green Grow operation. While work is ongoing, a portion of the greenhouse will be completed this summer to begin growing various crops such as leafy greens, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Tribal Chairman Mark Fox highlighted the historical significance of the project, stating, “We’re the first farmers of this land. We once were part of an aboriginal trade center for thousands of years because we grew crops at massive levels. All the tribes depended on us greatly as part of the aboriginal trade system.”
The tribe is investing around $76 million in the first phase, which includes a warehouse and other supporting facilities near Parshall. Future plans involve expanding the greenhouse space to approximately 14.5 acres over the coming years, potentially making it one of the largest facilities in the world of its kind.
With enough glass to cover the equivalent of seven football fields, the initial greenhouse represents a significant step for the tribe in achieving food sustainability.
The tribe’s fertile lands along the Missouri River were flooded in the 1950s by the Garrison Dam, leading to the creation of Lake Sakakawea. This event significantly impacted the tribe’s ability to access fresh produce in the region.
Given the remote location of the tribe in western North Dakota, away from major cities like Bismarck and Fargo, the greenhouse project becomes crucial in providing food to the approximately 8,300 people on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Additionally, the tribe plans to support food banks in isolated and impoverished areas and export their produce.
In the initial phase, the MHA Nation aims to produce nearly 2 million pounds of food annually, with plans to increase this to 12 to 15 million pounds in the future. The project is expected to create 30 to 35 jobs.
This initiative aligns with a national trend among tribes to enhance food sovereignty. The COVID-19 pandemic disruptions prompted tribes to invest in food systems using federal aid. Other tribes across the country are also focusing on food self-sufficiency.
The USDA’s Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative promotes tribal-led food initiatives and supports indigenous food systems. The MHA Nation’s greenhouse plans are made possible by access to water and natural gas resources.
By utilizing natural gas resources to heat and power the greenhouse, the tribe aims to reduce waste and environmental impact. Infrastructure development is crucial to capturing and utilizing the gas effectively.
Oil production in the Bakken oil field has benefited the MHA Nation in building essential infrastructure. The tribe’s innovative approach to using natural resources demonstrates a sustainable model for future projects.
