Debra White Plume, Director of Owe Aku, says, “Getting off the grid is part of doing social change work here on Pine Ridge, the first or second poorest county in the United States . Working to change the way people think about energy and resource development to become self-sufficient is essential.” Native communities have long been the places where the world has sourced raw materials for energy production – from coal and uranium to natural gas and oil. White Plume continues, “We need to stay true to clean energy and stay away from the idea of mining our resources. Leave all that in the ground; we can receive the power of the wind to energize our needs and do it without digging up the earth or contaminating the water, air, earth and people.”

Over the course of the two day workshop, participants will learn about small-scale wind and solar systems and how they can help individuals and communities get “off the grid.” Participants will also observe and help with the installation of the photovoltaic panels and wind turbine. Jim Taulman an instructor from Oglala Lakota College will be working in coordination with Doran Dalton of NativeSUN and Johnny Weiss of Solar Energy International. Native youth organizer Nick Tilsen, Executive Director of Lakota Action Network, says, "We have our own energy here in the wind and in the sun, by moving to these renewable energies we are increasing our sovereignty as a nation and building a better future for the children because there will be less pollution. The project at Owe Aku is a beginning. Let it lead to many other good projects for our families, communities and nation.”

The installation of the hybrid system at the Owe Aku Community Center marks the second training and installation of a renewable energy system coordinated by Honor the Earth this year. In April, they oversaw the installation of a solar photovoltaic system in the heart of Western Shoshone territory near Elko , Nevada . By developing models of locally-produced renewable energy systems, Honor the Earth hopes to democratize power production and to empower Native communities to produce their own electricity using renewable sources such as the wind and sun.