b'FOOD SOVEREIGNTYThe Inuvik Community Greenhouse, located in what was once a hockey rink, rents out growing plots to community members. Photo courtesy EightyOneImagesINUVIK COMMUNITYsubscription-based veggie box program.run it in further years we have to apply for GREENHOUSE Anything left over after that goes to thea lot of grants and subsidies, Scott says. Meanwhile the community of Inuvik inInuvik food bank.the Northwest Territories has experi- Out of Inuviks population of 3,100, nearly enced great success with an old-fash- Given the climate in Inuvik, the green- 2,000 identify as Indigenous (mostly ioned greenhouse converted from ahouse can operate only between AprilInuvialuit, followed by First Nations and former hockey rink. The benefits haveand September, says coordinator AdiMtis) according to the 2021 Canadian gone well beyond the provision of freshScott. But the greenhouses volunteercensus. Scott says the breakdown of produce that would otherwise be unavail- board also has its eyes on year-roundgreenhouse users probably reflects the able or prohibitively expensive. capacity and has been trialling hydro- same proportions. But she says around ponics for the last three years. This was70 per cent of the greenhouse staff is The Inuvik Community Greenhouseto be the last year, and Scott says its nowIndigenous, and the organization makes a rents out growing plots to commu- up to the managing volunteer board topriority of hiring Indigenous youth interns nity members on a sliding scale. Thedecide whether to continue.from the school system, full-time in the soil comes with the plot and seeds aresummers and part-time over winter. provided free of charge. Staff membersOur main barrier is the power bills. It and volunteers use any unrented plotscosts up to $5,000 per month to run theIn this way, the greenhouse helps sustain to grow produce for the communityshydroponics in the winter. So in order toand grow the economy and self-suffi-ciency of the communityproviding employment, training opportunities and making the community a more attractive Nature-Based Carbon Creditstarget destination for businesses. The greenhouse accommodates a range For Your Net-Zero Commitmentsof crops, from edible flowers to beans, The BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative reduces greenhouse gas emissionszucchini and tomatoes, while the hydro-by more than 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and conserves some ofponic aspect focuses on leafy greens and BCs important ecosystems, wildlife habitats, drinking watersheds, andherbs. To date, Inuvik still remains highly lands with cultural signicance to Coastal First Nations. dependent on expensive food shipped PHOTO: SALISH EYE PRODUCTIONSA portion of the revenue from the carbon credits certied under the Veriedin from the south, but this is one step in Carbon Standard ows to the Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areasthe right direction, and Scott believes (IPCA) Innovation Program and the Pacic Salmon Foundation to enablethere is also an important social side to cultural and scientic research. the greenhouse. Visit BigCoastForest.com to learn more about how youcan improve your organizations carbon footprint whileThis is very much a wellness practice in my supporting Indigenous-led conservation.eyes. I think of it as soil therapy, having your hands in the dirt, being surrounded by plants and by people who are calm and happy in the environment. Were just trying to show people whats possible. 50A CCAB PUBLICATIONFall 2023'