Earth Mother Renewal Project
The housing conditions on many tribal reservations are deplorable -- sub-standard housing, many without bathrooms or running water, little or no insulation. The Earth Mother Renewal Project is an effort of IAM, through the Selv Center, to bring together innovative engineers, builders and contractors to create energy-efficient and self-sustaining homes and communities "for The People" and "by The People." Along the way, this non-profit coalition hopes to provide free job training in multiple areas that tribal members can use both on and off the reservation. The result, we hope, will be communities and tribes that can be truly self-sufficient and independent --- the way it once was.
Once, all "The People" lived with the land and Mother Earth. The key words here are "once" and "with." Communities of people worked together to build homes --- whether they were wigwams, hogans, long houses, or tipis. The fruits of the earth, including wild game, were cultivated and harvested in a self-sustaining manner. Everything was "environmentally friendly." The people and organizations who are working on the Earth Mother Renewal Project believe that self-sustaining homes and communities can arise again and that one of the first places this should occur is with the People who lived "with" this land originally --- the indigenous people of the North American continent. Everyone who has signed on to work on the Earth Mother Renewal Project has agreed to provide their experience, expertise and resources at cost --- with absolutely no monetary profit to themselves.
Please note that both the project and this website is being built by volunteers. Each area of the project is outlined below. As soon as possible, each area will include a link to it's own section of the website where a more expanded description will be provided. Check back often for updates.
Community Revitalization Program
The primary focus of the Earth Mother Renewal Project is the Community Revitalization Program.
Objectives:
- To conduct a program of environmentally friendly community beautification, economic development, and revitalization.
- To promote individual, family, and community self-sufficiency by providing practical educational and employment opportunities which foster an individual’s sense of pride and accomplishment while enhancing their feelings of self-worth and self-value.
- To train a cadre of skilled and knowledgeable community members responsible to the community for the management and operation of individual projects within the overall Program, and who further serve as instructors for on-the-job vocational training of individuals participating in those projects.
- To supply the entire community with fresh agricultural products year-round, ensuring the complete and balanced nutritional needs of all community members are met.
- To provide all members of the community with environmentally friendly housing and community structures, maximizing protection from adverse weather patterns while remaining aesthetically pleasing.
Important Aspects:
- Job Skills and Training
All of the aspects of the Earth Mother Renewal Project will help provide job training and life-skills for the people involved. Marketable job skills will be learned. In addition, a builder with more than 30 years experience as a design engineer with 20 years experience in geodesic dome design and construction has agreed to provide dome construction classes to tribal members at no cost. The participants will not only learn how to contruct the homes for their reservation or individual families, but they will then be able to market their skills in the construction industry.
- Animal Husbandry
Everything from apiaries (bee hives), and poultry to raising dairy and meat goats and rabbits. This area also covers processing of the products, including feathers, leathers and furs.
- Horticulture
Horticulture includes year-round greenhouses, both attached to homes and community greenhouses. This area of the project will include seasonal crops, fruit and nut orchards, specialty crops and landscaping projects.
- Energy-efficient homes
The homes for this project begin with a passive solar design, constructed using natural and recycled building materials and incorporate self-sustaining utilities including heating and cooling as appropriate for the area in which they are constructed.
- Self-sustaining Utilities
Utilities covers everything from solar, hydro and wind-power generated electricity to ground-water systems as well as heating and cooling by attached greenhouses or solaria, methane gas heaters, radiant floor loops and solar chimneys. Other items include composting toilets, greywater systems and recycling as appropriate for the area.
- Resource Reclamation
Resource reclamation starts with recycling but goes beyond just collecting and separating aluminum, iron, copper, etc. It covers composting, biomass recovery, natural methane gas production and even gathering up abandoned vehicles to create vehicle repair garages and parts "stores."
Specific Projects:
We are developing a page containing a more comprehensive listing of specific Example Activities. After viewing, please click your browser's back button to return to this page.
Current Project Participants:
"To me, the wisdom the Elders have to manifest is in teaching people how to live in harmony and balance with each other and the earth.
-- Sun Bear, Chippewa
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