Reducing diesel dependency and bringing some quiet to the Dehcho region
Reducing diesel dependency and bringing some quiet to the Dehcho region
Checking in with our solar power partner in the Northwest Territories
Carl Squirrel is an electrician for Gonezu Energy, an Indigenous owned company in Fort Providence, NT. He is also one of the latest additions to Iron & Earth’s instructor network and is leading a crew of 3 electrician apprentices who are installing 20 solar panel packages on cabins in the Dehcho area over the summer.
Gonezu Energy received funding to build renewable energy capacity in the community and we were pleased they asked us to join as a training partner in the project. We will be funding our Solar Skills for electricians classroom training and Fall Arrest training. Our Condensed Solar Skills training will be provided to cabin owners, as well as a session for members of the community who are not directly involved in the off-grid portion of the project but who want to learn more.
There are logistical challenges to doing installation work in a remote area, but the effort will pay off with cabin owners being less reliant on diesel generators for power, and as you will hear in in this conversation Carl Squirrel had with freelance broadcaster Don Hill, solar power also brings some peace and quiet.
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This podcast is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
Iron & Earth was founded within Treaty 6 Territory and within the Métis homelands and Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4. We acknowledge this land as the traditional territories of many First Nations, including the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuliné (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot).
Iron & Earth acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. We recognize the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the deep connection that Indigenous communities have with the land, water, and environment. Our commitment to a Just Transition is informed by Indigenous land stewardship principles. We are dedicated to fostering partnerships with Indigenous communities, respecting their sovereignty, and learning from their knowledge and traditions. We strive to ensure that our initiatives are inclusive and support community-driven climate solutions, contributing to a sustainable and equitable future for all. We honor the diverse histories, languages, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples and commit to continuing our journey of learning and reconciliation as we work together toward a thriving green economy.