T’Sou-ke First Nation turns to wasabi in renewable energy push – Globe and Mail
In three large greenhouses southwest of Victoria, members of the T’Sou-ke First Nation are nurturing 15,000 wasabi seedlings, the small community’s latest business venture.
The 15 months it’ll take before harvest is a long time for a greenhouse crop, but the T’Sou-ke – with about 250 members and 67 hectares of land around the Sooke Basin and the Strait of Juan de Fuca – are in it for the long haul. The Pacific Coast Wasabi business is part of the community’s 100-year vision for energy security, food security, cultural renaissance and economic self-sufficiency, all centring on traditional aboriginal values.
While other First Nations in British Columbia debate the pros and cons of partnering with resource companies on pipelines and LNG production, the T’Sou-ke have aimed at setting a standard in sustainability, independence and alternative energy.
To date, this has included solar power, electric vehicles and sustainable food.
