Notes from the Field: A New Class of Solar Warriors

By Lacey Gaechter, Assistant National Director

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the National Wildlife Federation’s Tribal Lands Program, a record 16 trainees from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe completed a ten day solar air heater installation training with our partner Henry Red Cloud. Henry traveled to Lame Deer, Montana to instruct the students in assembly and installation of solar heater kits. In addition, each trainee received a solar air heater for their family home. One of the new “Solar Warriors,” Landon Means, has been interested in renewable energy for years after growing up with his father employed by the Pea Body Coal Mine.  Landon says of the mine, “It looks like an energy intensive way to get energy. I think there’s a better way. There has to be a better way.” Landon and his cousin Kale are among the renewable energy enthusiasts now working with Trees, Water & People to develop their own sustainable livelihoods on their reservations. They both plan to attend Henry’s upcoming straw bale demonstration and hopefully his radiant heating demonstration this fall.

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Trees, Water & People could not provide these life-altering trainings without the support of our sponsors and donors. Thank you for your support, and a special thanks to the National Wildlife Federation!

For more information about TWP’s Tribal Lands Renewable Energy Program please visit http://treeswaterpeople.org/tribal/tribal_intro.htm

Proud Solar Warriors (Photo Courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation)

CSU Alternative Spring Breakers go to Pine Ridge

CSU alternative spring break to Pine Ridge, SD.

This March, we were lucky enough to take a group of 13 CSU students up to the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) on the Pine Ridge Reservation for an alternative spring break.  The students were enthusiastic, smart, curious, and, best of all, very helpful, making for a wonderful trip!

A straw bale house on the property was damaged beyond repair in the flooding and will have to be taken apart.

After severe flooding severely damaged many of the buildings on our partner Henry Red Cloud’s property, where RCREC is located, there was much work to be done.  The alternative spring breakers jumped right in, helping to clean-up the horrible mess left from high and sustained flood waters.  We can not thank these students enough for their caring and compassion.  You guys are amazing and the future looks very bright with young people like you in it!

Here is an excerpt from Liz Harrison’s blog, a student who was on the trip:

Renewable energy honors traditional Lakota values and spreads hope. Trees, Water and People, the organization we partnered with for our trip, emphasizes that renewable energy is “a new way to honor the old ways” (check out their video on Vimeo). In addition, the job creation, financial independence and poverty alleviation that can be achieved with renewable energy bring great hope to the reservation. According to Richard Fox, National Director of Trees, Water, People, “Hope is our currency”.  And that is the most valuable asset of all.

To read more of Liz’s blog click here.  Also, enjoy the wonderful photos from the trip:

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*Emergency Flood Relief Fund Created for Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center*

 

Over the past week, the Calico housing area on the Pine Ridge Reservation has experienced severe flooding.  Snow melt, ice jams and clogged culverts and bridges caused Calico Creek north of Pine Ridge village to overflow its banks in low-lying areas.  The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) and Lakota Solar Enterprise’s (LSE) offices and shop  are now under water.

Henry Red Cloud's grandchildren being evacuated from the property.

Now, with a cold front moving back into the area, the situation has become even more dangerous.  Henry Red Cloud, owner of LSE, says this is the worst flooding he has ever seen on Pine Ridge.

As of now, it is too early to know the full extent of the damage due to slowly receding waters, but we will continue to post updates as we learn more about the damages.  The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center and LSE provide important jobs to Native Americans living on the reservation, making this recovery effort even more imperative.

We have set-up an emergency relief fund for RCREC and appreciate any help you can provide!

Click here to view a video of the flooding.  Thank you to RE-MEMBER for putting this video together!  Please stay tuned for updates on the situation.

Update from KELOLAND Television (Feb. 17, 2011): http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=021711pineridge12

The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center inundated with freezing cold flood waters.

The straw bale house on Henry Red Cloud's property has completely flooded.

Join TWP for the 2011 Lakota Adventure

This September, TWP will take a group to the Pine Ridge Reservation to experience the culture of the Oglala Lakota.  Participants will camp or stay in a dorm at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center, visit historical sites, learn about Lakota history and culture from tribal elders, and help plant trees and build solar heating systems for local families.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the strength, pride, humor, and enduring culture of the Oglala Lakota.

For more information or to reserve a space on the September Lakota Adventure, please call Lacey Gaechter at 970-484-3678 or email lacey@treeswaterpeople.org.

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Donate to the Pine Ridge Reservation Coat Drive

 

Aiden Stolz holds a load of newly donated jackets.

Aiden Stolz, a six year old from Fort Collins, Colorado, went to the Pine Ridge Reservation earlier this year to volunteer with TWP, and the visit had a very lasting impression.  Aiden was exposed to the harsh living conditions at Pine Ridge, one of the poorest communities in the country.  He was particularly upset with boarded up houses that failed to fully cover people’s windows.  Once the harsh winter of the Great Plains hit, Aiden knew people would be struggling to stay warm.

In response to what he saw, Aiden decided to start a coat drive, with the goal of collecting 500 jackets for families at Pine Ridge by December 11th.  So far, he has received 338 coats from friends, family, classmates, and perfect strangers.

Now, we would like to spread the word about this amazing little boy and how you can help the people of Pine Ridge.  Many of us take a heated house for granted, but on the reservation day-to-day survival is all that is on people’s minds.  Aiden hopes these jackets will help families get through the brutal South Dakota winter and we hope you can help!

There are multiple local drop-off locations for Aiden’s coat drive.  Please visit the following places in Fort Collins to donate:

Trees, Water & People                                McGraw Elementary School

633 Remington St.                                        4800 Hinsdale Dr.

Fort Collins, CO 80524                                  Fort Collins, CO 80526

If you live outside Fort Collins and would like to help families stay warm this winter, you can send coats to our partner Henry Red Cloud at the following address:

Lakota Solar Enterprises

1001 Solar Warrior Rd.

Highway 18

Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770

After the coat drive ends, Aiden and his family will drive to Pine Ridge to distribute the winter jackets with the help of Henry Red Cloud, owner of Lakota Solar Enterprises.  Please consider a donation to this important cause!

Aiden and Henry Red Cloud hanging out at the TWP office.

Learn About the Benefits of Solar Air Heaters for Native American Communities

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www.lakotasolarenterprises.com

2010 East Coast Trip: D.C. to NYC

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Henry Red Cloud Honored by Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Henry Red Cloud installs solar lighting in a tipi on his property at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Photo by Dan Bihn 2010.

Henry Red Cloud, proprietor of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE), will be honored by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) at their annual meeting in Los Angeles on October 11, 2010.  The 2010 IREC Annual Innovations Awards recognizes six different project categories.  Henry won the Clean Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects category for his efforts to bring green jobs and solar heating to tribes across the Great Plains with funding from the U.S. Department of Interior.

As the great-great grandson of Chief Red Cloud, Henry is a 21^st century Lakota warrior, providing sustainable, economically beneficial, environmentally sound, and culturally appropriate energy solutions to Native Americans living on reservations.  He has spent over a decade experimenting with sustainable energy and housing alternatives, searching for affordable solutions that preserve resources and complement the values and traditions of tribal communities.  In 2006, Henry created Lakota Solar Enterprises, one of the first and only Native-owned and operated renewable energy businesses.  In 2008, he partnered with Colorado-based nonprofit Trees, Water & People (TWP) to establish the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC), a one-of-a-kind educational facility where tribal members from around the nation can receive hands-on training from fellow Native American instructors. As Henry says, renewable energy is “a new way to honor the old ways.”

IREC ‘s annual Innovation Awards reflect upon their long-term goals of removing barriers to renewable energy use and giving credit to organizations and individuals, such as Henry Red Cloud, who work to reduce our dependence on short-term energy usage and provide alternative energy resources that factor in our future.  Each project reviewed by the judges has to demonstrate a positive impact that is replicable and innovative.  Award recipients will receive a commemorative plaque recognizing their achievement.  The winning entries will also be posted on the IREC website, featured in a national press release and listed in a brochure to be distributed to all attendees at the annual meeting.

To learn more about Henry Red Cloud and Lakota Solar Enterprises, visit www.lakotasolarenterprises.com. To learn more about the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, visit www.irecusa.org. To learn more about Trees, Water & People, visit www.treeswaterpeople.org.

Highlights from Lakota Adventure 2010

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Henry Red Cloud on Democracy Now

Henry Red Cloud, owner of Lakota Solar Enterprises, was interviewed Thursday, Sept. 30, by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now.  Congrats to Henry for his Nuclear-Free Future Award!  We hope you enjoy the interview.