Iron & Earth worked with Desmond Bull from the Louis Bull Tribe to develop two community-based rapid upskilling programs for fossil fuel industry and Indigenous workers: a 10-day solar program and a 10-day wind energy program. These programs include five days of in-class work and five days of hands-on training which involves the installation of a small solar and wind energy system. The programs ready to deliver the Community Solar Skills and Community Wind Skills Programs in partnership with Maskwacis Cultural College!

We are currently accepting applications from fossil fuel industry and Indigenous workers based in Maskwacis and the surrounding area with an interest in learning the skills needed to participate in solar or wind energy system project design, installation and maintenance. 

Thanks to the generous contributions of a number of funders, these offerings of the Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs will be available at no cost to the participants. 

TRAINING PROGRAM DETAILS

The solar and wind energy projects to be installed at Maskwacis Cultural College during the  Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs will provide a clean energy supply to MCC while minimizing impact to the surrounding land and environment. We wish to honour those that have stewarded the land since time immemorial and extend our sincere thanks to the Four Nations of Maskwacis for welcoming the Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs to be hosted on their lands. We acknowledge that the location of the training programs is situated on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux and on the homelands of the Métis Nation Region II. 

Iron & Earth is committed to allying with Indigenous workers to build and implement climate solutions including the projects at MCC and future projects. 

Please apply by April 4, 2022 to participate in our 10-day Community Solar Skills Program. The Community Solar Skills Program will include 10 days of training sessions held Monday to Friday from April 18 - 29, 2022 between 9 am - 3 pm MT. The first week of the program will include in-class learning  at MCC. The second week of the program will involve the installation of a 5-10 kW solar photovoltaic energy system at MCC, providing participants with hands-on solar project installation experience.  

Please apply by  April 25, 2022 to participate in our a 10-day Community Wind Energy Program. The Community Wind Skills Program will include 10 days of training sessions held Monday to Friday from May 2 - 13, 2022 between 9 am - 3pm MT. The first week of the program will include in-class learning at MCC. The second week of the program will involve the installation of a 2 kW micro wind turbine at MCC, providing participants with hands-on wind energy project installation experience.  

The Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs provide context on solar and wind energy generation projects and the importance of incorporating Indigenous traditional knowledge and practices throughout the project life cycle.

The knowledge and experience provided by the Programs will empower program participants to find meaningful work along related career pathways.

Please note that the program delivery structure and location information is subject to change to ensure participant safety and wellness and in adherence to Alberta Health Services public health measures, restrictions and guidelines to reduce the spread COVID-19.

TRAINEE PREREQUISITES

Participants in the Community Solar Skills Program or Community Wind Skills Program must:

• Have completed Grade 10 (minimum)
• Have experience in the fossil fuel industry

Or: 

• Be a member of an Indigenous community

Participants the Community Solar Skills Program or Community Wind Skills Program should:

• Have experience in construction and/or general labour (including farm labour)

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINEES

The knowledge and experience provided by the Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs will empower program participants to contribute to the development of clean energy generation projects and find meaningful work along related career pathways.

At the end of the Community Solar Skills Program, participants will be able to:

• Understand solar energy within the greater context of energy production in Canada.
• Recognize solar energy production as an action that supports increased autonomy and well-being for Indigenous communities in Canada.
• Evaluate the suitability of careers in the solar energy sector for themselves.
• Safely perform key aspects of work on a solar project, outside of electrical jurisdiction.
• Have knowledge necessary to pursue work as a non-electrician employee on a residential, utility or commercial-scale solar energy project.
• Understand the scope of electrician-related tasks associated with the installation of a PV solar array.

At the end of the Community Wind Skills Program, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the traditional cultural practices of the host community
• Represent a wind electricity project lifecycle
• Explain how electricity can be generated by wind power
• Have knowledge and experience necessary to pursue work as an employee on a large-scale wind energy project
• Practice safe work routines appropriate to the task and environment
• Provide context for wind power technicians working in a specific community
• Represent and share the environmental benefits of wind-generated electricity
• Identify pathways into renewable-based careers and training opportunities that interest them

A UNIQUE MODEL

Unique elements of our 10-Day Community Solar and Community Wind Skills Programs include:

1. Designed for, and focused delivery for, fossil fuel industry workers and Indigenous community members
2. Iron & Earth’s unique ‘Five and Five’ model: Five days of in class, followed by five days of hands-on experience - installing a working renewable energy system
3. Indigenous ways of knowing reflected in the course structure and content
4. Connection to a career mentorship program for program graduates

Check out more program details and application instructions here for the solar program and here for the wind program.