George Gordon First Nation, Mo’ Solar Company and the Canadian Solar Institute have launched the first Indigenous solar panel training program in Saskatchewan.
The program is called #MPoweredByMo and was developed for Indigenous people to build technical skills and learn about renewable energy.
“There was nothing previously offered here in Saskatchewan,” Mo’ Solar Company founder and CEO Bradyn Parisian says. “A few different online offerings are available, but I’ve personally found this model isn’t the best for learning practical skills or getting your hands on actual solar PV components and gaining experience with installs. Furthermore, there is nothing specific to Indigenous communities, which face a number of unique circumstances as opposed to non-indigenous communities. With the growing number of opportunities for First Nations and Métis in renewable energy – it just clicked. We had to make the course a reality.”
Participants have been taking the course at the George Gordon Urban Office since Monday.
“The students will have to write an exam to demonstrate their competence in the subject matter and once they graduate, they are CSA-accredited,” Parisian says. “We go through all things solar.”
The first graduation for the course is taking place at noon on Friday at the George Gordon First Nation Business Centre.
(PHOTO: Courtesy of Mo’ Solar Company Facebook page.)