Unique entry for solar housing embraces Indigenous traditions, beliefs

Solar-powered housing in First Nations communities will be given serious consideration in an international competition to take place this fall in the United States.

A group of University of Calgary students, with the input of a Treaty 7 Aboriginal Advisory Council, has developed TRTL (pronounced “turtle”), which relies heavily on the influence of the Treaty 7 First Nations culture while addressing modern day  issues such as mold, fire, and infrastructure details.

“Team Canada is a really unique look at the Solar Decathlon competition. The inclusion of Aboriginal culture provides a very interesting look, if you will, at a celebration of Canada’s cultural diversity and the role that culture plays in sustainable design,” said Johann Kyser, the team’s Aboriginal relations manager.

The submission has received approval from both Blood and Piikani First Nations.

“As First Nations we have always held close to our heart the environment and the responsibilities we have as people to sustain the land for future generations. This project demonstrates the ability to utilize the environmental resources to provide shelter in a traditional design,” said Blood Chief Charlie Weasel Head, who was consulted during the design development phase.

Former Piikani Chief Reg Crowshoe validated the project through a ceremony giving TRTL (Technological Residence Traditional Living) the Blackfoot name Spo’pi. In his written endorsement, Crowshoe said, “It is important for us to validate this project in our own way because housing is one of the biggest problems when it come to social issues for First Nations. We look forward to working with the team and wish them good luck in the competition.”

Comprising the team are U of C students:  project manager Teagon Murray (undergrad, Haskayne School of Business); engineering lead  Frank Jansen (masters, Schulich School of Engineering); design lead/architectual coordinator  Joanne Sparks (graduate, architecture); health and safety officer Melanie Friesen (graduate, environmental design); sponsorship manager Mark Blackwell (undergrad, Haskayne School of Business); faculty lead Loraine Fowlow (faculty of environmental design); electrical lead Ken Anderson (masters, electrical engineering) and Kyser, who has his masters in environmental design.
Early on in the proposal process it was decided that the route of the project would have to be determined with Aboriginal members of the community, said Kyser.

“So many communities are remote and the consequence of decentralized energy may prove a real benefit, especially where infrastructure and energy costs are rising in remote areas…a shift towards clean technology (may) have a chance of re-establishing harmony,” said Kyser.

The home is designed round with the main door facing east as in the protocol of a traditional tipi, but also the home is built to produce as much as or more energy than it consumes.

The Solar Decathlon competition has been held by the U.S. Department of Energy since 2002. The competition challenges 20 teams around the world to build the best solar-powered house, while keeping in mind the key factors of architecture, engineering, market appeal and liability.