Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce — a.k.a. Minnesota — to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.
On today’s show, Leah and Cole talk with Bob Blake (Red Lake Nation) who is the founder and owner of Solar Bear, a solar installation company, and the Executive Director of the non-project organization Native Sun Community Power Development. Both organizations are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bob Blake makes the case for how Tribal Nations are key to solving climate change and environmental problems, by embracing energy sovereignty. And we hear how Bob has made it his mission to inspire and empower people in Indian Country to not only pursue careers in renewable energy but also to become the leaders capable of solving energy issues, which are not being properly addressed by corporate power companies or the US government.
Bob Blake’s enthusiasm is infectious, and we appreciate his vision and encouragement to everyone at any age, to take on these challenges and make the world a better place. Chi Miigwech, Bob!
Bob Blake’s company is Solar Bear, Gizis-o-makwa in Ojibwemowin: https://solarbear.earth/
Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.
Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts
More from Native Lights
- From Lattes to Legacy: The Grand Opening of MiigWitches Brew
In this episode, we sit down with Jackson Ripley, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, enrolled at the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jackson shares the inspiring story behind MiigWitches Brew, a cozy gourmet coffee kiosk he recently opened with his wife. Operating from an 8×10 ft. building, MiigWitches Brew is more than just … - Creating Representation: Nicholas DeShaw’s Path in Fiction and Storytelling
In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Bimibatoo Mishtadim DeShaw, an Ojibwe author, father, and educator. Nicholas masterfully blends his Indigenous heritage with imaginative fiction across a wide range of genres, from sci-fi and horror to children’s picture books. He shares his journey as a writer, discussing his latest projects, including a new graphic … - Stitch by Stitch: Janice LaFloe’s Journey of Indigenizing Montessori Education
In this episode, we speak with Janice LaFloe, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Executive Director of the Montessori American Indian Childcare Center (MAICC) in St. Paul. Janice shares her remarkable journey from being a Montessori parent to establishing one of the largest Montessori centers dedicated to American Indian children. Her … - Gatherings Café: Vernon DeFoe on Indigenous Dishes and Food Sovereignty
In this episode of Native Lights, we sit down with Vernon DeFoe, the Executive Chef at the Gatherings Café located inside the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Vernon, a proud Red Cliff Anishinaabe, has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry and is a passionate advocate for Indigenous food sovereignty. For the past decade, … - Gold, Linoleum, and Fire: Inside the Mind of Gordon Coons
In this episode of Native Lights, we sit down with Gordon Coons, a talented painter, print maker and fumage artist who is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe in northern Wisconsin. Gordon, who now resides in Minnesota, shares his inspiring journey of becoming an artist, detailing the pivotal moments throughout the eras …
Gov. Walz Unveils Timeline To End COVID Restrictions, With Mask Mandate Ending By July 1