Summer plans for the Heat Pump Project
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How the Haíɫzaqv Nation is taking centre stage on community-led climate action
You may have heard about the Heat Pump Project or the incredible climate action work happening in the Haíɫzaqv Nation. There’s been a lot of coverage lately on how this remote community on the Central Coast of British Columbia is firing all cylinders to reclaim clean energy sovereignty. Climate action is not just a conversation in the Haíɫzaqv Nation, it’s a pathway its residents are already walking, setting an example of how we can all work together, locally, to find solutions to the climate crisis.
At the heart of the Haíɫzaqv Community Energy Plan is H̓íkila qṇts n̓ála’áx̌v, protecting our world, a statement that holds the values, principles, and worldview of the Haíɫzaqv people. The plan was created with two-years of deep community engagement, and over 1,000 voices were included. Without a doubt, residents are on board with this community-led initiative to take immediate and meaningful steps toward climate action.
"We got a mandate from our people like none other," Leona Humchitt said to me over a video call from her home in Wágḷísḷa (Bella Bella, BC). Leona introduces herself as the Haíɫzaqv Climate Action Coordinator and Tribal Councillor, emphasizing that she’s also a wife, a daughter, and a grandmother.
"What we’re doing is hard work but it’s heart work for our children."
The Community Energy plan includes fuel switching via the Heat Pump Project. Heat pumps were less familiar in 2017 when the Haíɫzaqv Nation and Graham Anderson, Director of Community Energy at Ecotrust Canada, first came together to work on a business case analysis. From the research, and based on the temperate climate, heat pumps were identified as the solution to improve home energy efficiency by leveraging power from the Ocean Falls hydroelectric dam in Haíɫzaqv Territory.
“Homes in the Haíɫzaqv Nation were spending excessive amounts on energy, up to $5,000 a year, which is around three times the provincial average,” said Phil Climie, Retrofits Program Manager with the Community Energy team at Ecotrust Canada.
To date, 154 homes have installed heat pumps — eliminating 770 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, equivalent to taking 295 gas-powered cars off the road — local community members are being trained to maintain them, and this summer another 120 heat pumps are scheduled to be installed.
"I love this heat pump," Yvonne Lawson says about her new home energy system. "In the winter, it keeps me nice and warm, and in the summer the air conditioner keeps me nice and cool, especially during the heat waves. It’s a good investment that our band has made for us."
Read more about the Haíɫzaqv Nation’s Community Energy Plan. This newsletter only captures a slice of what I learned from Leona and the Climate Action team.
In case you missed it, listen to the special What On Earth CBC podcast with Q̓átuw̓as Brown, the Communications Manager of the Haíɫzaqv Climate Action Plan.
Sincerely, Shannon.
Wait! If you’re still with us. We have more.
NEW AND NOTABLE
New faces
From Nuxalk Nation, an Indigenous community located in what is now referred to as Bella Coola, BC, Carrigan Tallio, joins the Indigenous Home-Lands team as the Regional Coordinator for Nuxalk/Tsilhqot’in. Carrigan has worked for Nuxalk Nation housing since 2018 and she’s always looking for ways to improve housing on reserve. She is passionate about finding ways to enrich the lives of people living on reserve in hopes that everyone can achieve their own Stl’mstaliwa, the full human experience.
At the Skeena office, we’ve welcomed two summer interns hired through the Canada Summer Jobs program. Caterina Cociani and her green thumb have returned from music school, and she’s stepped back into her position as Community Worker at the urban farm, Sndoyntga Lax Kx’een ada Maxłaxaała. Samuel Costa, also a talented musician, is supporting Communications efforts through research and updating fisheries training materials before heading off to music school in the fall.
Adding seaweed to beer
What would adding locally harvested sugar kelp to beer taste like? Curious? Metlakatla Development Corporation and Ecotrust Canada approached the Wheelhouse Brewing Company in Prince Rupert about the idea and they took the bait. The Wheelhouse brewed latissima Gose, a refreshing summer beer with Metlakatla grown and harvested Sugar Kelp (latin name Saccharina latissima). They also added lime zest and tangerines for a citrus kick. The kelp lends a salty characteristic that cuts through the acidity in the beer and citrus.
Did you know, sugar kelp is a common algae found in the world’s temperate oceans. It is known to contain at least 30 minerals important to a good diet including potassium, calcium, and iron. Latissima Gose is on tap at Wheelhouse, and available in cans in stores around the North.
Speaking on Small-Scale Fisheries in St. John’s
Racheal Weymer and Taylor Reidlinger from Ecotrust Canada’s Community Fisheries team travelled to St. John’s Newfoundland to attend, present, and learn at the 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress (North America edition). Racheal presented about how to get the Blue Economy right, highlighting the importance of fair and equitable fisheries policy in supporting the resiliency of coastal communities and economies. Taylor used the developing kelp aquaculture sector and commercial fisheries to illustrate her call for priority-driven policies that are optimistic, responsive, and risk considerate.
At the conference, they were able to share and hear stories about how different — yet similar — the challenges and opportunities are for small-scale fisheries across regions, First Nations, and countries. Racheal and Taylor made connections that will help inform our work and better support our harvester partners at home on the West Coast.
Seedlings all summer long
With the school year ending, we wanted thank Charles Hays Secondary School (CHSS) for allowing us to use their heated greenhouse. All seedlings for the urban farm, Sndoyntga Lax Kx’een ada Maxłaxaała, were grown from inside the CHSS greenhouse in Prince Rupert, BC. This greenhouse has become Charles Gerein's office and the perfect place to grow veggies for the high school’s cooking class, and to sell to fundraise for next season's garden program. It is also where he fosters seedlings for community gardens around the region. Beyond its four walls, the school has allowed Charles to use the raised outdoor beds for the new seed library. Over the summer, Charles will visit the greenhouse often preparing plants for when classes kick off in the fall.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Dockside monitor, Keirstyn McIorie, biosamples suuhaa (chinook) for the Five Nations Fishery on the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (Tofino). After detecting a coded wire in its head, she’s removed it to send over to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for further study. (Kathryn Bond photo)
Proving the Possible
Ecotrust Canada works with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities toward building an economy that provides for a healthy and resilient natural environment; sustainable and abundant energy, food, and housing; prosperous and meaningful livelihoods; and vibrant cultures and inclusive societies. We call this approach, building an economy that provides for life.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Ecotrust Canada Team
