The Sustainable
Development Technology Training Intensive, held August
8th - 18th, 2005 at the Pine Ridge Reservation, South
Dakota, was an intensive hands-on training workshop for
tribal community members, decision makers, and
technicians in the concepts, installation, and
maintenance of environmentally and culturally
appropriate technologies. The technologies demonstrated
included: photovoltaics, micro-hydroelectric systems,
small-scale wind energy systems, straw bale construction,
construction design using ‘Ecological Design’ methods,
and alternative on-site wastewater treatment. The
workshop was coordinated by the
Sustainable
Nations Development Project. Their mission is
"Promoting the sovereignty, environmental health, and
cultural health of Indigenous Nations through
community-based appropriate technology development
work."
Engineering for
Developing Communities assisted with the straw bale
construction workshop which was taught by Dave
Braveheart (originally from Pine Ridge, now owner of
Braveheart Construction in Crestone, CO) and Dr. Owen
Geiger, Founder and Director of the Geiger Research
Institute of Sustainable Building.
The Task
To build a round straw bale building for use as
a play house for the Pine Ridge Tribal Head Start, whose playground is now bare. This
site is in a high visibility area, and the building will be a demonstration of the affordability, environmental
and cultural appropriateness, and community-oriented nature of the straw bale construction method.
In order to protect the structure, a freestanding concrete acrylic roof was installed.
This post and beam roof measured 24' x 24' and is shaped by joining four hyperbolic paraboloids. For more details about the roof designed by George Nez,
click here.
The Team
Native American students from
at least a half-dozen states in the US, and Saskatchewan
(Canada) participated in this training. These students
represented several tribes. In addition, volunteers came from Colorado, Nebraska,
Utah, and visiting graduate students from Catalonia
(Spain) joined in the training.
Click on an individual image to see an enlarged view.
Group Photos
[photogallery/photo00026050/real.htm]
Concrete Acrylic Roof
[photogallery/photo00023023/real.htm]
Rubble Trench & Earth Bag Foundation
[photogallery/photo00008730/real.htm]
Straw Bale Wall Construction
[photogallery/photo00016615/real.htm]
Earthen Plaster
[photogallery/photo00007207/real.htm]
Overall Structure
[photogallery/photo00012234/real.htm]
More photos to be added soon...
Additional Projects
Adjacent to the straw bale playhouse,
a homemade windmill was installed to produce energy for
lights in the playhouse.
[photogallery/photo00014228/real.htm]
Future Plans
The round playhouse was built in
approximately three days. Earthen plaster was applied to
the outside, but due to time constraints, the inside was left unfinished. Volunteers will travel back to Pine
Ridge this fall in order to complete the structure so that it will be ready to use. This demonstration project was
well-received by many local elders and tribe members. At least one Pine Ridge resident said that he plans to start
construction of a straw bale barn within the next month. Stay tuned for further updates.
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