When the Prairie Island Indian Community in Minnesota installed a large solar farm, the entire tribe got a chance to learn about the technology.
Robert Blake of Red Lake Country owns Solar Bear, a solar installation company. His company trained crews as part of the Prairie Island project.
Blake: “The people who installed these panels were all locals, 763 panels installed in one day. … I mean, it's amazing!
But it’s not just installers who know about solar. His company helps host a six-week solar energy course that is open to all community members.
Young tribal members learned about renewable energy and built solar ovens as part of a summer school program.
Blake: “We thought, well, maybe there are some young people, right, maybe they're 14, maybe they're 13, but they want to learn.”
Black said renewable energy has the potential to transform Aboriginal communities – creating jobs, building wealth and improving the environment.
Black: “This is another new industry that's happening in tribal nations. It's another economic driver for our communities.
So he said it's important to help all tribal members see the potential of and get excited about solar power.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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