Hope Gardens Greenhouse – Montreal Lake Cree Nation
Focus Forward for Indigenous Youth is a Kingston based registered charity that collaborates with Indigenous communities from across Canada on self-determined community projects that empower youth, using trades-based educational programming. In their programmes, youth gain hands-on skills, job site training, apprenticeship hours and high school credits, all with professional mentorship.
The community is located in Saskatchewan, about 100 km north of Prince Albert. A $3,000 grant assisted with start-up costs related to operating the greenhouse, including basic equipment, materials and supplies. The greenhouse project is now a place for intergenerational relationship building and knowledge sharing. As well as providing a sustainable food source, it is providing a community treatment centre with a place for recovery and healing.
In order to enhance financing the project, we reached out to Rotary Clubs in northern Saskatchewan, and this resulted in partnerships with four Rotary Clubs. The Rotary Clubs of Nipawin, Prince Albert, Melfort, and Hudson Bay, all contributed along with us to this project.
To view a video about this project, see Greenhouse house project helps to build community | APTN News.