On his recent trip to a meeting of the Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA) in Vail, Assembly members surprised TWP’s National Director Richard Fox with  an award for his work. Richard founded the CWA and was pivotal to its success for its first few years; the CWA honored Richard for his “extraordinary leadership and persistence.” He also managed to build an organization that is now sustainable without his oversight, the ultimate goal and challenge for any visionary. His new plaque reads, “… we would not be where we are without your dedication, weird humor and passion. The rivers of Colorado are better due to your efforts.” Way to go Richard!

Henry Red Cloud, TWP’s Pine Ridge Coordinator and the founder of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE), has been recognized as a 2009 Innovative Idea Champion by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).  Henry left today for Washington, D.C. to present his concepts of renewable energy on tribal lands at the CFED’s 2009 Innovation Summit.  Accompanied by TWP National Director Richard Fox and TWP Board President Jon Becker, Henry will engage with other innovators to shape and advance next-generation solutions addressing today’s unprecedented economic uncertainty.  This great honor has provided Henry, Richard, and Jon a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet with key figures in Washington to gain support for renewable energy for Native Americans – “a new way to honor the old ways.”  Safe travels Henry, Richard, and Jon!     

We wanted to share this particularly nice compliment to TWP's Protecting the Water of the Arid West (PWAW) program from one of our training participants:

 I was struggling.  My watershed group had just learned that we would have to address much more stringent water quality standards and we had no money with which to work.  I knew we’re going to have to engage the public if we’re ever going to be successful.  But how?  Out of the blue an e-mail came from Trees, Water & People inviting me to attend a free training to learn how to tell stories effectively.  Under the tutelage of a skilled trainer, I learned to tell my fascinating stories in a way that engages others. My watershed group is well on its way to solving its funding issues. Not bad for a day’s work.

Through PWAW, we regularly provide training and development assistance to watershed groups, like this person’s, throughout the Interior West.  With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this two-year program has helped these groups to grow sustainably and continue the protection of precious water resources. 

Henry Red Cloud, TWP’s Pine Ridge Coordinator and the founder of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE), has been recognized as a 2009 Innovative Idea Champion by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).  Henry left today for Washington, D.C. to present his concepts of renewable energy on tribal lands at the CFED’s 2009 Innovation Summit.  Accompanied by TWP National Director Richard Fox and TWP Board President Jon Becker, Henry will engage with other innovators to shape and advance next-generation solutions addressing today’s unprecedented economic uncertainty.  This great honor has provided Henry, Richard, and Jon a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet with key figures in Washington to gain support for renewable energy for Native Americans – “a new way to honor the old ways.”  Safe travels Henry, Richard, and Jon!     

We wanted to share this particularly nice compliment to TWP's Protecting the Water of the Arid West (PWAW) program from one of our training participants:

I was struggling.  My watershed group had just learned that we would have to address much more stringent water quality standards and we had no money with which to work.  I knew we’re going to have to engage the public if we’re ever going to be successful.  But how?  Out of the blue an e-mail came from Trees, Water & People inviting me to attend a free training to learn how to tell stories effectively.  Under the tutelage of a skilled trainer, I learned to tell my fascinating stories in a way that engages others. My watershed group is well on its way to solving its funding issues. Not bad for a day’s work.

Through PWAW, we regularly provide training and development assistance to watershed groups, like this person’s, throughout the Interior West.  With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this two-year program has helped these groups to grow sustainably and continue the protection of precious water resources. 

Trees, Water & People will co-sponsor a conference highlighting the energy cost problems faced by the Indian Reservations of the American West, the multi-modal renewable energy approaches being implemented to address these problems, and the future possibilities for Native American renewable energy development.  The conference, scheduled for November 4^th-6^th, will be held at the Rosebud Casino on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

The Rosebud Reservation has been at the forefront of renewable energy innovations, making this an ideal opportunity to explore the future of Native American renewable energy innovations and opportunities.  Included in the conference will be tours to various sites on the reservation where renewable energy applications are in use, presentations by Native American renewable energy leaders, and cultural activities.

More information about the conference will be made available soon.

"We came out of 2008 with a greater sense of gratitude --- for all of you who care for our work and make our programs possible. Together, we have become a great force for good in the world and I look forward to expanding our efforts in the years ahead."
     -Richard Fox, National Director

Please visit http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/about/annual%20report2008.pdf to read the full 2008 Annual Report!

Henry Red Cloud, founder of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE) and partner of Trees, Water & People (TWP), has been recognized as a 2009 Innovative Idea Champion by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).  As an Innovative Idea Champion, Henry will have the opportunity to present his concept of renewable energy on tribal lands at the 2009 Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. in October. 

Building on the foundation of Lakota Solar Enterprises, one of the nation’s first 100% Native American owned and operated renewable energy companies; Henry is now developing the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC).  Located on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, RCREC is a training facility for tribes to learn about renewable energy applications from fellow Native Americans.  RCREC returns newly certified Solar Technicians to their communities with the expertise to start their own renewable energy programs.  By incorporating small-scale applications, such as solar air heating, into their tribe’s housing, energy and employment policies, tribal leaders will be able to provide new green jobs, save money on home heating costs, and combat global climate change. 

CFED’s 2009 Innovation Summit will exhibit top innovators introducing ideas, products, programs and policies that will create the future of economic activity.  There, Henry will have the opportunity to engage with others to shape and advance next-generation solutions in the hope of creating a community that will address today’s unprecedented economic uncertainty.     

For more information about Henry Red Cloud, LSE, and RCREC please visit http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/tribal/tribal_intro.htm.

Trees, Water & People's (TWP) 2010 EcoTour will take travelers to El Salvador and Nicaragua to experience our international programs first-hand while enjoying the beautiful culture of these two Central American countries. 

Starting in El Salvador, participants will visit Joya de Ceren, an archeological sight similar to Pompeii.  In Candelaria de la Frontera, they will have a chance to learn how our fuel-efficient Justa stove is made from start-to-finish by actually participating in the process.  Later, we will travel to our El Porvenir tree nursery to plant a grove of fruit trees.  The El Salvador tour will end with exotic bird watching and scenic hiking in the Los Volcanes National Park.  From El Salvador the EcoTour will travel to Nicaragua.  The adventure continues with a tour of the PROLEÑA EcoStove factory in Managua.  From Managua, the group will travel to La Paz Centro to tour TWP’s tree nursery, a reforestation site, and a ceramics factory.  The trip will end with explorations of León and Granada, two of Nicaragua’s most picturesque colonial-era cities.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience will bring adventurous travelers to the heart of TWP’s mission.  Our commitment to developing sustainable community-based conservation solutions can be clearly seen when you travel to the places where our programs are being implemented.  Meeting and working with the communities we serve will be an unforgettable opportunity!

TWP EcoTours are conducted through the Mesoamerican Tourism Alliance, an alliance of local organizations committed to the development and promotion of sustainable tourism as a means for supporting conservation efforts in Central America.  The dates for our 2010 EcoTour will be February 7-16 and the $2,850/person price includes all lodging, meals, tours, and local transportation. 

For more information, please contact Allison Shaw at allison@treeswaterpeople.org.           

Allison Shaw, TWP’s Assistant International Director, has been announced as the 2009 recipient of the Wall Alumni Service Award.  The $25,000 Award is available to alumni of Grinnell College, where Allison graduated from in 1998 with a BA in Biology. 

Allison’s proposed project, Protecting Family Health and the Environment in El Salvador, will work to expand TWP’s current fuel-efficient stove project, while, at the same time, introducing the nutritious Maya Nut tree into the local diet.  This project will provide significant health, economic, and environmental benefits to communities in El Salvador.  The main goals of the project are to build 100 new fuel-efficient Justa stoves, to create jobs for two local women as stove promoters, and to produce 1,300 Maya Nut trees.  With these goals met, Allison believes we will continue to see increased native forest cover in El Salvador by reducing the demand for firewood and planting Maya Nut trees.  Also, family health will be improved by reducing exposure to smoke and improving nutrition. 

Through a collaborative effort with TWP and the Equilibrium Fund, as well as the Salvadorian NGO Arboles y Agua para el Pueblo, Allison will coordinate and manage the project.  Her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala, as well as her two years of work with TWP makes her the perfect administrator for this life-changing project.  We are looking forward to the contributions that Allison will bring to communities in El Salvador and congratulate her on this wonderful award!