Pine Ridge, SD – We celebrated Native American Heritage Month in November, a time to celebrate who we are and where we’re going. For the Oglala Lakota people, our heritage has always been tied to the sun. Today, we carry that tradition still by harnessing power from the sun – solar energy. In doing so, we honor the old ways in a new way, bridging tradition and innovation. By embracing solar energy, we aren’t just keeping the lights on; we’re helping our culture and communities thrive.

On the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, we built something remarkable: a hands-on solar training center that is as much cultural space as it is a place to learn. The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC), founded in 2008, sits on a 10-acre campus complete with student housing, state-of-the-art solar equipment, and real-world installation structures. 

Here, you’ll find sample panels for installation training and classrooms for learning wiring and mounting, and you’ll also find tipis, a sweat lodge, and a big drum on site. Every element is intentional. When our trainees gather in the sweat lodge or around the drum, they are doing more than studying solar energy; they’re honoring their values. This immersive environment proves that renewable energy education can celebrate our Indigenous identity while preparing students for strong career paths.

Every few months, a cohort of students from tribal nations across the country comes to Pine Ridge for our intensive solar installer training. They learn by doing, assembling off-grid systems, mounting solar panels, wiring batteries, and more. The program culminates in a capstone project: installing a solar power system. From day one, students see the impact of their work, a tangible contribution to the Pine Ridge community, and a path toward energy independence.

Since we opened our doors, over 1,100 Native people from more than 70 tribes have come to Pine Ridge to learn solar energy skills. They leave with certifications, new job prospects, and renewed pride in their heritage. Just this autumn, Red Cloud Renewable celebrated a major milestone: solar installations on over 60kW of clean energy distributed among tribal homes across the reservation. Each installation represents more than clean energy; it’s a story of self-sufficiency and care. We prioritize those most in need: elders surviving harsh winters on fixed incomes, single parents stretching every dollar, and families in unsafe or inefficient housing. The result is powerful: a young person gaining skills and a paycheck, an elder gaining warmth and security, and both generations finding hope under the same source – energy from the sun. 

As we continue to celebrate Native American Heritage even past November, we’re reminded that our heritage is not only something to honor from the past, but also something to live and protect in the present. For the Oglala Lakota and Indigenous peoples, energy sovereignty through solar power is a modern chapter in our culture’s tradition. It means our people can rely on local, reliable, and low-cost energy that reflects our values of balance, respect for the land, and care for one another. It means our young people can stay and work in their hometowns, building skills and opportunities that strengthen the community for generations to come.

That’s what Red Cloud Renewable is about, weaving traditional wisdom and modern technology into a future where our people thrive, our culture endures, and the Native way of life shines bright through the power of the sun.John Red Cloud is the Director of Operations at Red Cloud Renewable. Red Cloud is a 6^th-generation descendant of Chief Red Cloud. He was born and raised on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and he is one of the Oglala Lakota Oyate. The mission of Red Cloud Renewable is to help Tribal members and communities move towards energy independence.