A B.C Indigenous company is trailblazing a new kind of science to help reclaim former industrialized sites with native plants. Nupqu Resource Limited Partnership, based out of Cranbrook B.C, recently launched the largest Indigenous-owned plant nursery in Canada, focused on growing native plants to help repopulate former mine sites and produce that can be distributed to non-profits.
Nupqu unveiled the project on Oct. 1, and invited the public to view the space, located on Aq'am First Nation, just outside Cranbrook. There are currently eight greenhouses on the property housing various species of plants, grasses and shrubs that are native to the East Kootenay region of B.C., including fireweed, cottonwood, balsamroot, and sitka alder.
The facility has the capacity to grow up to 700,000 seedlings per year. President Aaron Higgs said seedlings will play an important role in land reclamation, helping restore areas touched by development and industry to its natural state.
Nupqu has provided plants to Elk Valley Resources mine sites, the TC Energy West pipeline extension near Fernie, and the Kicking Horse Canyon road project. Higgs said Elk Valley Resources ordered 2.5 million seedlings in the past year.
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