Northern Farm Training Institute

In the past, short workshops taught in the NorthWest Territories communities by outside educators lacked the depth and breadth of information necessary to give people the confidence and skills for successful food production in their communities. Today, students from every region of the territory are traveling to Hay River for a series of accessible, seasonal and northern-focused training workshops.

The long-term vision for the Institute is to have trained residents in place in the majority of NWT communities within the next five years. The ultimate goal is for these individuals to be in a position to train others in their community, to exponentially grow local food production and create small-scale businesses for themselves, thus strengthening food security in the north.

Our Presenters:

Jackoline Milne originally from the NorthWest Territories, first began her career in B.C where she started operating an organic market garden and greenhouse. Today, Jackoline has a business in Hay River called Indian Summers Market Garden and Greenhouses, which she has joyfully been working at for the past 5 years.  She is also the president of the Territorial Farmers Association, as well as the president of the newly formed Hay River Commons Co-op.

Susie Wegernoski has worked as a Community Adult Educator for the past five years in the community of Fort Resolution.

 Growing up on a small, mixed-farm, her values were shaped by a deep respect and insight into natural systems, and an old-country approach to self-sufficiency. In 2010, she completed her Permaculture Design Certification, and is currently finishing a certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture through Guelph University.