PROJET de SERRE KUUJJUAQ

- FRQ Journée de la
recherche 2015
La recherche
nordique :
Un regard québécois,
Une portée internationale
Ellen Avard
PhD Candidate – Geographical Sciences, U. Laval
Director – Nunavik Research Centre
Makivik Corporation
&
Barrie Ford
Canadian Polar Commissioner
Deputy Director – Nunavik Research Centre
Makivik Corporation
THE KUUJJUAQ
GREENHOUSE
PROJECT
--Community Development through
Food Production
Presentation Outline
• Introduction
• Context & Background
• Case Study
• Potential New Projects
• Why Northern Greenhouses ?
• Keys to success
• Innovation in Action
• Conclusion
Kuujjuaq Greenhouse
LOCATION:
Nunavik is one of four
Inuit regions in the
Canadian North.
Modern-Day Nunavik was
created pursuant to the
James Bay & Northern
Quebec Agreement
(JBNQA), in 1975 – The
first comprehensive Inuit
land-claim in Canada.
Nunavik is essentially a
supra-municipality within
the province of Quebec, it
is governed by the Kativik
Regional Government.
Most of the land in
Nunavik is tundra (above
the tree line; sparse soil)
https://www.itk.ca/publication/maps-inuit-nunangat-inuit-regions-canada
Inuit Nunangat
CONTEXT:
There are 14 villages in
Nunavik, the largest of
which is Kuujjuaq.
12 090 individuals, 90% of
whom are Inuit, reside in
Nunavik (2011 census).
The population is growing
very rapidly; many young
people.
Many socio-economic
challenges.
Strong retention of
traditional culture & sense
of community.
Change happening at a
very, very fast pace!
www.makivik.org/images/map/01_nunavik.gif
Nunavik
Why an Interest in Greenhouses Now
 There are many Food Security challenges in
Northern Villages
i.e.: availability, quality
and cost of fresh fruit and
vegetables.
Examples of Greenhouses in the North
 Community Gardens



Inuvik - Northwest Territories, Canada
Iqaluit - Nunavut, Canada
Dawson City - Yukon, Canada
 Commercial Operations



Carmacks L. S. FN - Yukon, Canada
Narsaq - Greenland
Hveragerði - Iceland
Inuvik Community
Greenhouse Society,
2009
http://www.taiga.net/yourYukon/col427.html,
2012
Sara Minogue, 2009
 Research Sites



Qaqortoq - Greenland
Devon Island - Nunavut, Canada
Kuujjuarapik - Nunavik, Canada
Ellen Avard, 2011
www.nunalerineq.gl/english/uperna/index-uperna
Precedents for Greenhouses in Nunavik
•
Greenhouses at Catholic & Anglican
Missions
•
•
•
•
Greenhouses at Hudson Bay
Company Posts
•
•
•
Kuujjuaq (Father Le Chat)
Kangiqsujuaq (Father Dion & Brother Chauvel)
Salluit (Bishop’s Wife)
Inukjuak
Kuujjuaq
Father Dion beside the Greenhouse
Government Farm near Fort Chimo (False River)
•
Canada Department of Agriculture Research Substation: 1950’s-1960’s
Example: Fort Chimo Station (1964-65)
 4 Greenhouses & Field Trials
Canada Department of Agriculture - 1967
 “In order to avoid heavy food shipments into these remote
areas, it would be particularly beneficial if the Northland
could be made nutritionally more self-sufficient. Local
production of fresh vegetables would obviate the
deterioration and spoilage of produce during transit as
well as the high cost of transportation. In addition, the
general morale of the residents would be raised by the
sense of accomplishment, independence and selfsufficiency derived from this new occupation.”
Nowosad, F. S., J. D. Warren, I. Hoffman, & R. B. Carson (1967)
“An Evaluation of Vegetables Grown in the Eastern Arctic Region of Canada”
Greenhouses in Nunavik Today
Ellen Avard, 2013
Ellen Avard, 2013
Alix Gordon, 2009
Elena Labranche, 2010
Ellen Avard, 2013
Doris Whitely, 2008
Greenhouses in Nunavik Today cont’d
Ellen Avard & Steve Grasser, 2013
Personal Gardening Initiatives
Ellen Avard , 2012
Personal Gardening Initiatives cont’d
Ellen Avard , 2014
Kuujjuaq Greenhouse Project
- Planning and development of 9 horticultural micro-projects -
Ellen Avard, 2013
The Partnership Approach
Kativik Regional
Government
Université
Laval
Municipality
Volunteers
Greenhouse
Project
Media
Observers &
Supporters
Other
Contacts
Community Garden (1st Greenhouse)
Eva Gunn, 2012
Ellen Avard, 2012
New Greenhouse
Isabelle Champagne, 2011
Ellen Avard, 2012 &2013
Community Garden (2nd Greenhouse)
Ellen Avard, 2014
Compost
Ellen Avard & Jacques Bertrand, 2012 & 2013
Potatoes
Ellen Avard, 2012 & 2013
Supervised Apartments
Ellen Avard, 2012
Supervised Apartments cont’d
Marc-André Lamontagne, 2013
School – Grade 4’s visit
Ellen Avard, 2012
Daycares
Ellen Avard, 2014
Hydroponic Pilot Project
Neil Sellors, 2013
Jason Aitcheson, 2013
Neil Sellors, 2013
Potential New Projects in Nunavik
 Salluit
 Small-scale commercial operation
 (chicken and rabbit projects as well)
 Kangiqsujuaq
 School gardening project
 Quaqtaq
 Hydroponic pilot project
 Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik
 Medium-scale commercial operation
 Waste heat captured from co-generation
(electricity) project
www.makivik.org/images/map/01_nunavik.gif
Why Northern Greenhouses?
•
Food Security & Food Sovereignty
•
•
Social Benefits
•
•
•
•
Job creation
Education
Social re-integration
Environmental Benefits
•
•
•
Healthy, good quality, fairly-priced fresh food produced locally
Reduction of “food-miles” / carbon footprint associated with transportation
Compost projects divert waste from landfill
Economically Feasible
•
•
Economically competitive if alternative heating methods used
Very advantageous from a “whole-cost accounting” perspective
Why Northern Greenhouses? cont’d
•
Technically Possible
•
•
•
•
Low-tech: summer-season, no extra heating or lighting
Medium-tech: extended season, minimal heating and lighting
High-tech: year-round production; hydroponics; aquaponics
Socially Acceptable
•
•
Certain types of vegetables have been part of the northern diet for
generations (i.e.: onions, potatoes, carrots)
Nunavimmiut identify parallels between agriculture &
hunting/fishing/gathering
• i.e.: obtaining food from the land
• i.e.: pride in being able to produce food for ones’ family
•
•
Many Nunavimmiut (especially youth) open to trying new things
Communities are asking for Greenhouse Projects
• Support from residents, all levels of government and businesses
Keys to Success
 Community appropriation of idea (“buy-in”)
 Project specifically designed for—and by—the community
 Communication
 Within community (share ideas; get feedback from residents)
 Outside networking (learning & sharing)
 Involve children and youth
 Local governance
 Projects managed locally (not by South)
 “Project Champions”
 Plan for the long-term....don’t rush!
Innovation in Action
 Problem: Need good quality soil for the greenhouse
 Solution: “COMPOST PROJECT”




Multiple partners:
Ungava Supervised Apartments, Local Volunteers, Université Laval
Local Food Stores, Construction Camps, Daycares, Nunavik Research Centre
Kativik Regional Government, Northern Village of Kuujjuaq, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social
Services, Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee
Ellen Avard, 2013
 Results:
Created soil
Diverted waste from landfill
Integrated companies into the community
Created employment for people with disabilities
Conclusion
 “When local agriculture and food production are integrated
into
the community,
food becomes part of a community’s
problemsolving capacity,
rather than just a
commodity that is
bought and sold.” (2)
Jason Aitcheson, Ellen Avard & Marc-André Lamontagne, 2013
(2) HELLER, M. (2005) Food Connection: Capitol Area Community Food Profile. C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University.
Thank-you
- Nakurmiik -
QUESTIONS ?
Lyne Larocque - Kuujjuaq, 2014