06/02/2026
"Bringing [the bison] back is an act of restoration for this land and our community." Stella Lavallee, President, Willow Lake Métis Nation (WLMN)
While the rain put a damper on the outdoor festivities, community members and partners still came together to celebrate the launch and official grand opening of Willow Lake Métis Farms.
This exciting initiative includes the recent reintroduction of 20 bison to the area—already grown to 26 with the arrival of six new calves—as well as a hydroponic farm that will provide fresh, locally grown leafy greens.
Thank you Elder Mary for the opening prayer and for helping start the event in a good way. Thank you also Rockin Fiddle for the great music and the youth dancers for the jigging performance. It was inspiring to hear from Stella Lavallee, Matthew Michetti, and Destiny Martin about the vision, dedication, and hard work that have gone into making this project a reality.
AIOC was proud to attend today's event. We are also honoured to have played a supportive role through our loan guarantee program to facilitate Willow Lake's co-ownership in Suncor's Northern Courier project and Enbridge's Athabasca Trunkline.
Congratulations again on this important milestone. We look forward to seeing Willow Lake Métis Nation continue to build on this success and create lasting benefits for future generations.