Tehotiiennawakon Shares Plans for Renewable Energy, Broadband

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Tehotiiennawakon held the second of three economic initiative focus meetings on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the St. Regis Recreation Center. Director Jim Ransom along with Kylie Tarbell, Fallon Davis, and Tracy Sunday Cook presented to interested community members a summary of Tehotiiennawakon economic initiatives.

Paul Sutterlin, Jazz Solar Solutions, also presented the Community Energy Plan. Jazz Solar completed an energy analysis (energy audit) of ten MCA facilities and ten homes to prepare an energy baseline, identify and analyze energy retrofits and to prepare a retrofit implementation plan.

Long-term solar energy projects prove to be a financially lucrative and environmentally-conscious means of generating cash flow for First Nation communities at above-market rates, while also creating jobs in a specialized and growing field. In using solar energy, Akwesasne would also reduce our carbon footprint and generate clean energy.

In developing a strategy for planning the Tehotiiennawakon initiatives, they used the Akwesasne Economic Leakage Study to create a baseline of economic information needed to plan for the future. The study found that over $107 million (76%) of Akwesasne’s money was being spent ‘outside’ of Akwesasne.

Also used in planning for the future were the Labor Market Information Study, the Comprehensive Community Plan and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Strategic Plan.

Akwesasne Area Management Board conducted the Labor Market Information Study, finding the unemployment rate of Akwesasne is at 22.6%, and in the next ten years, over 2,600 youth will be entering the labor market with more people entering the workforce than leaving.

The Comprehensive Community Plan identified becoming self-governing, improving community infrastructure, creating more jobs and business opportunities.

The Council’s Strategic Objectives are self-determination, modernization, sustainability and health and well-being. Tehotiiennawakon’s culturally-based Mission Statement uses the four elements of nature, “The Waters are our bloodlines. The Four Winds move the air to refresh us. Each day our eldest Brother Sun travels from east to west bringing the light of new day.”

Tehotiiennawakon has created an exciting plan to achieve self-determination by capacity building through renewable energy technologies: developing a solar energy plan, investing in grade energy audits and retrofits, developing a fiber optic broadband system and creating a community electric cooperative, (throughout the northern and southern parts of Akwesasne). The creation of a community electric cooperative would need the cooperation of the entirety of Akwesasne, north and south, and of every homeowner.

According to the Tehotiiennawakon initiatives, Akwesasne has the potential to become a ‘Center of Excellence through renewable energy technology based industrial park with geothermal, wind, solar and hydro companies’.

Driving much of the focus on renewable energy is the recent move from fossil fuels and Climate Change. The goals and plans of the economic energy plan would create energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel would be replaced by renewable energy. Akwesasne has the potential to become a leader in addressing Climate Change impacts. Ultimately, this would create jobs leading to positive social and economic outcomes.

Through these initiatives, finding compatible partners is key; some possible partners include: Mohawk Networks, Samsung, EDP Renewable, Hitachi, and Nation Rise Wind Farm.

Developing a working relationship and partner with Mohawk Networks opens a fiber optic broadband system to the entirety of Akwesasne.

Overall education goals would need to focus on STEM, preparing students for possible fields such as renewable energy technology technicians.

MCA is also working on the Aboriginal Conservation Program, Mohawk Electric Cooperative, and the 20/20 Catalyst Program.

The third community focus meeting for Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Tehotiiennawakon Initiatives is scheduled for Thursday, April 6, at the Anowarako:wa Arena – 6pm.