The Northern Farming Training Institute (NFTI) of Hay River was one of two finalists for a massive prize, but an organization in Yellowknife emerged the winner.
The Arctic Indigenous Wellness Project – led by Dr. Nicole Redvers, a Yellowknife naturopathic doctor who grew up in Hay River – won $1 million from the Arctic Inspiration Prize.
"It's been very emotional for many of the team members here," said Redvers, after returning to Yellowknife from a Jan. 31 awards ceremony in Ottawa. "Overwhelming at the same time, but also exciting to be able to look forward to the important work to come."
She said team members held hands and prayed as they awaited the announcement.
They all jumped up and hugged when they realized they had won, she recalled. "It was quite powerful."
The Arctic Indigenous Wellness Project is an urban land-based healing site within the downtown core of Yellowknife mostly focused originally on homelessness, but also incarcerated and at-risk youth with the goals of reaching out to smaller communities.
It will offer healing services within an Indigenous model and try to help communities deliver more Indigenous-focused programming, particularly in the areas of health and wellness.
"The prize is going to catapult the work that we've been doing, but also be able to expand the amount of services that we're able to offer within a traditional structure," said Redvers. "We're setting up canvas tents and tipis on a land-based site in a wooded area in the downtown core close to the issues that we have on the street, but also in close proximity to the hospital. So we'll be able to offer year-round programming, and the prize funds us for a period of two years."
NFTI's proposal is called From-the-Land – Food Ambassadors Program.
It aims to identify people across the North and empower and mentor them to become teachers in their communities while they also produce food.
Premier Bob McLeod and Health Minister Glen Abernethy were in Ottawa to present the 2017 Arctic Inspiration Prize to the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation.
Abernethy nominated the organization for the award.
The GNWT also worked with the foundation to identify suitable land for its program.
"I want to congratulate the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation on winning this prestigious prize that will allow them to continue their important work to support NWT residents in their healing journeys," stated McLeod in a news release.
Abernethy, who nominated the foundation for the award, also offered congratulations.
"The Government of the Northwest Territories is proud to support the work of the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation to provide members of our community at risk of suicide, substance abuse, incarceration and homelessness with access to traditional healing practices and cultural education," he said.
The Arctic Inspiration Prize selection committee nominated 10 projects in three categories for support totalling up to $3 million.
Along with the $1-million prize, there were prizes of up to $500,000 and of up to $100,000.
The only other NWT project receiving funding – in the up to $100,000 category – is Colville Lake's Dene Heroes Publication Project.
It will support young Dene men and women as they compile, publish and distribute a book honouring Dene heroes.