T'Sou-ke First Nation Achieves Solar Vision

Small Community Takes Big Action Towards Energy Security

Local artists carved a Coast Salish sun on the community hall's solar hot water panel, where PV panels are also in place.

The First Nation community of T'Sou-ke is walking on sunshine, after outfitting 25 homes along with the fish hatchery, the community hall, band hall and canoe shed with solar thermal units. Not only that, almost all of the install work was completed by community members themselves.

“It’s a really big step forward for putting the reserve on the map,” says Leaf Dodge, one of nine tradesmen trained to carry out the installs. “We can teach what we’ve done and show how it was done within the community, from reservation to reservation, providing jobs and going green. It’s a really good way to go.”

The T-Sou'ke Solar Community Project came from a visioning process in which they looked at ways to sustain themselves down the road, with energy security being a top priority.

“They’ve been a sustainable society for thousands of years, so once again they’re playing a powerful role in that,” says Donna Morton, who works with First Power, a program dedicated to supporting First Nation energy autonomy, and one of several that are lending a helping hand on the project. When it came to putting PV panels on the roof and installing the solar hot water systems, trainees were led through a customized learning program that respects the oral customs of the First Nations who have traditionally learned by talking and sharing stories. With the help of a crew of experts in First Nation education, the new training option relies heavily on practical application and is being presented to CanSIA for further use.

“This kind of teaching strategy opens up solar as a trade to people who have been left out, for example people with dyslexia,” says Donna. “A lot of people have the aptitudes and skills to be a solar installer but conventionally the (theory) training hasn’t worked for them.” She adds that the trainees showed strong understanding of the course material when it's combined with hands on demonstration.

“I definitely liked the hands-on training better,” says trainee Leaf Dodge, who appreciated the opportunity to apply the skills he’s developed from working on oil rigs, for the application of solar hot water systems. “I learned how to tie those skills into what we were learning.”

All of the trainees brought a solid skill level to the table and were able to mentor one another under the direction of expert solar hot water trainer Joe Thwaites, President of Taylor Munro. “In First Nations Communities you see lots of different skills related to home building trades,” says Donna, explaining how this knowledge aides them as solar installers, who need to be a bit of a jack-of-all trades, with knowledge in roofing, carpentry, electrical and plumbing areas. “It was great for the trainees to gain access not just to having the solar technology but to own a piece of the renewable sector, and be a part of the changing energy sector of Canada.”

The T’Sou-ke Solar Project was conceived, implemented and managed by T’Sou-ke Nation for its members and as a demonstration project for other First Nations - particularly those off grid. The T'Sou-ke community will now lend a leadership role in teaching and sharing their new knowledge. As for their initiative with the solar hot water units and PV panels, Donna hopes others can benefit from seeing what the community has acheived. “They’ve done it, right now,” says Donna. “This is not 100 years from now. Right now their energy meter is spinning backwards.”