Community growth in Natuashish, as Innu try gardening

Labrador isn't known for ideal crop conditions and the Innu haven't traditionally planted their own food but a bountiful community garden in Natuashish has Innu Nation leadership promoting planting.

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Former band manager, GaryO'Brien, spearheadedthe idea of agarden.

"It's a brand new thing in a very old culture that hasn't been doing that," O'Brien said.

"So, you know, the whole project of having a garden is very much a work in progress."

The benefits

"The people don't have any knowledge or any expertise or any education of gardening,"InnuNation DeputyGrand ChiefSimeonTshakapeshtold CBC Radio'sLabrador Morning, but said there are obvious benefits.

Produce in Natuashish is expensive and home-grownorganic vegetables are a nutritious food source that can be incorporated into diets at a lowercost.

"The food is so alarming. Prices here in Natuashish have gone up crazy," Tshakapesh said.

"If people can grow their own stuff, that's one of the things that people will benefit from it."

The garden inNatuashishwas first started six years ago when O'Brien approached the community's band council looking for support.

Sowing the seeds

A plot of land was cleared and the band council funded the shipment ofthree pallets of compost and one palletof lime.

It's a brand new thing in a very old culture.- Gary O'Brien

This season, the 25 by18 foot, six-bed garden harvested beets, kale, carrots, strawberries and two types of lettuce andswisschard.

"It took six summers for people to start realizing the importance of growing your own potatoes, your own vegetables, your own organic stuff," Tshakapeshsaid adding that growing interest in the project isn't going to happen right away.

He hopes gardening catches on inNatuashishand he says people inSheshatshiuthe other community in theInnuNation are expressing interest in getting a garden.

O'brien took a Grade 9science class to the crop to let them taste the produce and teach them about how they were grown.

"It went really well but it was the first time ever and all these things are going to need follow up and reinforcing," O'Brien said.

He hopes to cultivate interest in expandingthe gardens next year.

"It's not something that you're just going to talk about once and all of a sudden everyone is going to become interested and you can just sit back and wait for them to come to you."