Past Programs

Train the Trainer: Building Indigenous Capacity for Energy Efficiency

In 2021-2022 the Fraser Basin Council and Richard Hall delivered Train-the-Trainer: Building Indigenous Capacity for Energy Efficiency, a project in partnership with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

This project aimed to build skills and knowledge on energy-efficient building construction within Indigenous communities by training a peer group of eight Indigenous building experts and 12 student trainees, representing four regions in BC (Northern BC, Central Coast, Southern BC and BC Interior BC). The student trainees included Indigenous youth who have beginner-level knowledge of building trades and construction.

The training series included four online training sessions and a three-day in-person course in Vancouver, instructed by BCIT, AHMA, Sustainable Projects Group and Richard Hall.

After completing the training, the eight building expert trainers were able to teach "Energy Efficiency 101" workshops in First Nations communities that wanted to learn more about energy-efficient practices for maintaining homes.

The project objectives were to:

• build capacity and knowledge on energy-efficient buildings within a cohort of Indigenous building specialists
• raise awareness about energy-efficient construction and retrofit best practices and standards among industry professionals and
• facilitate Indigenous-led education for First Nations communities on energy-efficient buildings

Thanks to Richard Hall of Nuxalk Nation who brought to this project 35 years of experience in indigenous housing as a Red Seal carpenter / builder, a capital project and housing manager, a housing consultant and building inspector. In his work, he designs affordable, sustainable and energy-efficient homes that complement the climate conditions of British Columbia's west coast and that suit the cultural lifestyles of First Peoples.

Thanks also to the project funders: Clean BC, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, BC Hydro, Fortis BC, BC Housing and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.

Webinars and Workshops

To check out videos of past events, visit the First Nations Home EnergySave playlist on YouTube.

Journeys to Efficient Housing Webinar
April 2022

FBC's FNHES program hosted a conversational-style webinar between indigenous housing champions Drae Azak (Nisga'a Lisims Government) and Richard Hall (Nuxalk Nation). The webinar provided insights from those across the mentoring lifecycle, drawing on the experiences of mentors and mentees in advancing energy efficient housing in First Nations communities.

Indigenous Youth Home Energy Workshop
May 27, 2021

This workshop brought together Indigenous youth to discuss  successes, challenges and the need for better support mechanisms for those working in the home energy field and how to address home energy efficiency both on and off-Nation.

Webinar | Green Homes, Warm Homes: Energy Efficient First Nations Housing
May 11, 2018 | Hope, BC

Hosted in partnership by the Fraser Basin Council and Yale First Nation, this workshop offered an opportunity for First Nations communities to learn about improving energy efficiency of homes on reserve. The workshop provided an introduction to energy efficient buildings, highlighted how First Nations are building or retrofitting for energy efficient homes, helped connect communities to funding organizations, showcased an interactive demonstration of air sealing, and showcased Yale First Nation's Passive homes through a field visit. 

• Our Journey Towards Sustainable Housing (Crystal Sedore, Yale First Nation)
• Yale First Nation Housing: Making Affordable Housing, Affordable, with Tiny Row Homes (Colin Doylend)
• Home Energy 101 (Gillian Aubie Vines, Great Bear Initiative)
• Tsay Keh Dene's Energy Management Plan (Stieg Hoeg, Tsay Keh Dene & Areef Abraham, Community Power)
• Best Practices for Air Sealing and Insulation Retrofits (Michael Wilkinson & Geoff Kirkpatrick, RDH Building Science)​

Workshop | Live Green, Save Green: Taking Action on Energy Efficiency
February 16, 2017 | Workshop: Vernon

Hosted in partnership by the Fraser Basin Council and Okanagan Nation Alliance, this workshop offered an opportunity for First Nations administrative managers, elected leaders and community champions to hear from other First Nations communities about their work in planning for energy efficiency, community engagement on energy, and building community through clean energy projects. In addition, the workshop provided an overview of the upcoming energy step code and how it will support energy efficient building practices.

Presentations:

• Participant Resource Guide (PDF)
• Workshop Summary (PDF)
• Building Community through Sustainable Energy (PDF)
  Aaron Sam_David Isaac
• Improving Homes and Lives: Great Bear Initiative (PDF)
  Gillian Aubie Vines
• Changing the Way We Build: Great Bear Initiative (PDF)
  Gillian Aubie Vines
• Okanagan Nation's Actions on Energy Efficiency (PDF)
  Okanagan Nation Alliance
• Energy Conservation Assistance Program: Osoyoos Indian Band (PDF)
  Carol Suhan_Darlene George
• BC Energy Step Code (PDF)
  Wilma_Leung

Workshop | Saving Dollars on Energy: Increasing Energy Efficiency for First Nations Housing
January 26, 2016 | Workshop: Vancouver

This workshop featured the experiences of First Nations communities in building new energy-efficient homes, renovating existing homes and creating housing policy with best practices for energy efficiency. Workshop participants — First Nations housing managers, senior staff and elected leaders — discussed priority actions for housing energy efficiency and connected with funding agencies, community leaders, consultants and training opportunities.

The workshop was hosted by the Fraser Basin Council as part of the First Nations Home EnergySave program.

• Agenda

Presentations:

• Kwadacha Nation Pilot & Lessons Learned
  Areef Abraham

• Kwadacha Nation Pilot & Lessons Learned
  Dawn Bursey

• Skidegate Band Council Heat Pump Video (YouTube)
  Billy Yovanovich & Trent Moraes

• Kitasoo Xai'xais Energy Initiative: Reducing our Energy Demand
  Jamie Pond & Gillian Aubie-Vines

• Nuxalk First Nation
  Richard Hall

• Learning from the Ecosage Building Pilot
  Tabitha Eneas & Phil Hawkes

Webinar Series on Home Energy Management

The Fraser Basin Council partnered with SES Consulting to deliver free Home Energy Management Training webinars as part of the First Nations Home EnergySave initiative. The webinars aimed to support energy management within First Nation communities in BC and to look at how energy conservation could improve health and comfort and manage costs.

The program explored a range of topics but focused on three main topic series:

1. Technical Series
2. Energy Management Series
3. Community Series.

To check out the webinar videos, visit the FBC YouTube channel.

One-on-One Support Program

Fraser Basin Council offered a One-on-One Support Program as part of its First Nations Home EnergySave initiative. The objectives of this program were to:

1. Build the capacity of three new First Nations community champions to plan and implement energy efficiency projects.
2. Encourage peer mentoring and share best practices in energy efficient housing.
3. Support First Nations communities in designing their own training initiative to address an educational need. 

Participants in the One-on-One Support Program had access to advice for current energy efficiency projects, advice and support for funding applications, and connections to support organizations. In addition, the program provided up to $5,000 for community capacity building and training that participants were free to design themselves.

2017-2018 Projects

Snuneymuxw First Nation's Gimme Shelter & Energy Workshops

Snuneymuxw held a series of community workshops with the goal of changing attitudes on energy habits and preparing community members for home rental or home ownership.

The workshop series covered seven key topics:

1. Introduction on historical impacts on First Nations housing
2. What constitutes a good tenant / home owner
3. Money smarts and basic budgeting
4. Preparing to rent or own on First Nations land
5. How to maintain your housing and reduce energy consumption
6. Attitudes towards energy consumption and
7. Conflict resolution.

In order to get higher community participation, Snuneymuxw combined the "Gimme Shelter" housing curriculum with energy-related discussions. To educate community members, they also created "Energy Tidbits" flyer: here's an example. Also read the project report.

Halalt First Nation Energy Efficiency Initiative

Halalt's Energy Efficiency Initiative aimed to build internal awareness of and capacity for energy efficiency and to prioritize energy savings retrofits for existing homes.

Project activities included a community workshop to help build awareness about energy consumption and the review of home energy assessments to provide information for prioritizing renovation projects with the greatest potential to save energy. Read the project report.

Hands-on Training on Air Sealing at Shxw'owhamel

Shxw'owhamel First Nation has a goal to ensure that local construction and maintenance personnel are knowledgeable about home energy systems and are capable of carrying out necessary energy efficiency measures.

Shxw'owhamel hosted two-day training sessions to teach about how to properly air seal existing homes and new construction. The two-day session included class sessions and hands-on training.

Read the project report.

2016-2017 Projects

	Lytton’s Solar Energy Workshop Lytton First Nation hosted the Lytton Solar Energy Workshop on May 30, 2017 for Lytton community members as well as surrounding Nations. Presenters included W Dusk Group, Canadian Energy, and BC Hydro. BC Hydro’s outreach team hosted a booth providing tips and advice around saving energy for homes. W Dusk Group spoke about working with First Nations around BC on solar energy installations. Read the project report here
	Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw: Learning about Green Technologies from the Haida Nation Given the high cost of electricity in the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation (GNN), the community wanted to develop a Community Energy Plan and to explore alternative, energy efficient technologies. Two representatives from the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Band Office traveled to Skidegate, Haida Gwaii to consult with representatives on their approach to the Community Energy Plan and how to use alternative technologies to reduce the cost of electricity in the community. GNN also aimed to learn how to encourage self-sufficiency in providing community energy needs and eliminate their dependency on diesel power generation. Read the project report here
	Lower Nicola Indian Band’s Energy Efficiency Workshop Lower Nicola Indian Band hosted a community workshop to raise awareness about energy efficiency, indoor air quality and ventilation. The workshop provided advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of homes and save money on occupants’ utilities. A trainer demonstrated the operation of a heat recovery ventilation unit, showing the internal components and the operation. Read the project report here