Tr'ondek Hwech'in Teaching and Working Farm Receives One Million Dollars at AIP Event

Wednesday, 13 February 2019 12:14

The one million dollars came from winning the $500,000 Arctic Inspiration Laureate Prize, and another $500,000 from the Government of Canada.

Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Citizen Luke Campbell and Juanita Taylor helped provide thrilling coverage by hosting the 7th Annual Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) Tuesday night in Whitehorse at the Yukon Arts Centre.

Newly-appointed Yukon College Board of Governors Judy Gingell gave opening prayers and remarks, acknowledging the first Arctic Inspiration Prize taking place north of the 60th parallel was occurring on Kwanlin Dun and the Ta'an Kwach'an First Nation traditional territory.

The Arctic Inspiration Prize focuses on helping Northerners conduct project to improve issues such as food security, language revitalization, and violence in their community.

The first winners of the night in the $100,000 Youth Prize Category were "From Scrap to Art", an initiative to teach welding to youth around Cambridge Bay.

Winners of the $500,000 AIP Prize Laureates included a Tr'ondek Hwech'in Teaching and Working Farm, and the funding will help support a longer growing season for fruits and vegetables for Dawson City Residents.

A video displayed at the event portrayed the potential of the farm.

"In 2018, the farm produced enough food to feed nearly 100 families in Dawson City. With AIP funding, the farm will increase its five month growing season by by building a cold-climate greenhouse. This will double the growing season and provide more learning opportunities and food security to people in the region."

One of the loudest round of applause was when the operators of the farm, including Derrick Hastings, Eoin Sheridan, Mike Taylor, and Nick Woxniewski, heard from MP Larry Bagnell that the Government of Canada was also significantly investing in the farm too.

"That's why it makes me so incredibly proud that local and Indigenous communities like this are developing local solutions to food security. So, here it is. Today I am excited to announce that the Government of Canada is matching the prize amount".

And finally, project "Pirurvik- A Place to Grow" won the AIP Laureate One Million Dollar Prize. The investment will help to fund early childhood education initiatives in seven Inuvik communities.

CHON FM will have more reaction and coverage of the laureates later on in our five broadcast.