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Greenhouse Project for Ile a la Crosse Metis

The Greenhouse Project in Ile a la Crosse

Jun 21, 2019 | 9:50 AM

TheRight Honorable Paul Martin will be in Île-à-la-Crosse to launch the Greenhouse Project, a Martin Family Initiative (MFI).

MFIis committed to supporting education,health, and overall well-being outcomes for First Nations, Métis Nations, and Inuit children and youth in Canada.

The Greenhouse Project hopes to address many issues related to food, food security,and horticulturethat disproportionately affects Indigenous Peoples and their communities. The Greenhouse Project is a school-based program that introduces students to horticulture through hands-on lessons and practices

It seeks to complement a number of existing course areas for high school students including entrepreneurship, science, math,and nutrition.

The program was developed with the input of Indigenous leaders, members of the Indigenous business community,and Indigenous educators to ensure the program materials meet the learning needs of Indigenous students.

“We are an isolated community. The work Mr. Martin and his family are doing with our students is so important,”said Jim Durocher, President of A La Baie Metis Local # 21 Inc. The Greenhouse Project will allow students and participating community members to explore the usage of more advanced technology to sustain year-round growth. “

The Greenhouse Project is an exciting new venture, pairing youth entrepreneurship with a national and global challenge –food security and the necessity for creating more sustainable food systems. This project has enormous potential to marry traditional ways of knowing with the most current technology to create future-oriented solutions driven by Indigenous youth,” said the Right Honourable Paul Martin.

Students will also grow food on the land in the traditional Métis Nation way during the spring and fall months. MFI, through the Greenhouse Project, seeks to support the creation of a comprehensive food growth strategy that is based in education, technology,and centralizes traditional knowledge. The partnership between Île-à-la-Crosse and MFI is vital to achieving this objective and MFI is grateful to the community for their participation and enthusiasm.

“It would certainly be great to see students take what they have learned in their horticulture class, supported by their hands-on experiences in the greenhouse and apply it to growing their own food right here in Île-à-la-Crosse,” said David Dornstauder, Director of Education a tÎle-à-la-Crosse School Division.“We are very proud of our youths. They are our future. Their leadership in food production will help our community move to greater food security,” said Duane Favel, Mayor of Île-à-la-Crosse and Chairperson of the Île-à-la-Crosse School Division.

About the A La Baie Métis Local # 21 Inc.

“A La Baie Metis Local # 21 Inc. represents approximately 1400 Metis people in the Northern Village of Ile a la Crosse (Established in 1776, Ile a la Crosse is a historic Metis Community located in Northern Saskatchewan) The main source of employment is with uranium mining, regional hospital, school division, health services, fishing,and trapping