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The American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) has advocated for housing for American Indian people since 1993. AICHO operates the only culturally-specific domestic violence emergency shelter in Northeast Minnesota, offering safety and advocacy. AICHO created transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in response to the need for safe, affordable housing. Over the course of nearly three decades, the need for housing has only increased and become more complicated. But the root of American Indian homelessness goes back much further.
The truth is the land we all live on is originally Indigenous land. Tribal communities have thrived here and had ample resources, including homes for all Tribal citizens. With colonization and conquest, Indigenous communities endured great losses and survived intentional, massive actions to eliminate their communities, their people, and their cultural ways. Much of this history has been erased and the harm has not yet fully been acknowledged. This includes land theft, systemic violence, and policies that robbed Tribal Nations of economic power, cultural rights, and community integrity. |
The question we must ask ourselves is this: how can American Indian people be homeless in their original homelands?
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AICHO would like to say miigwech to artist Weshoyot (Tongva Nation from the Los Angeles Basin) who we commissioned for sharing her illustrated artwork piece for our billboard project and for bringing attention to the issue of MMIW. She is a comic book artist and illustrator and was born in the Santa Monica Mountains on the property of Satwiwa, a cultural center started by her father Art Alvitre. She grew up close to the land and raised with traditional knowledge that inspires the work she does today. (Info taken from her artist bio).
To find more about her, go to: https://www.weshoyot.com/ and find her on social media. Billboard was designed by Moira Villiard, Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe Direct Descendant & artist, utilizing Weshoyot’s artwork with artist permission. Billboard will be on display starting this week for up to 4 weeks in Onigaaminsing (Duluth, MN). |
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Has COVID-19 made it hard to pay your rent? If you have experienced hardship due to the pandemic and need assistance to pay your rent or utility bills, you may be eligible for COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance. RentHelpMN is open for applications. |
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“American Indian women and girls represent 1 percent of the state’s population, but make up 8 percent of murdered women and girls in MN. That’s one of the findings in a report from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force, a task force created by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz in 2019. News Releases - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force Releases Findings. The Task force also reported that during any given month from 2012 and 2020, 27 to 54 Indigenous women and girls were missing in Minnesota.” The safety and security of tribal communities is continually at risk when our women, and children go without the same media attention and police power to bring them justice. |
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As Indigenous people, we have a history of epidemics and pandemics that we have endured throughout history. Please join us on Oct. 13, 2021 at 6 pm as we bring a diverse range of Indigenous knowledge holders together to explore health, healing and empowerment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists include: Terry Maresca, MD (Mohawk Nation) and Sharon Day (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Nation) moderated by Association of American Indian Physician's President Mary Owen, MD (Tlingit Nation). **Ojibwe translations: Apenimowin means trust and debwewin means truth. Register at: https://umn-private.zoom.us/.../WN_uTzgLJGuQqKdSPYW16tOpg FB event: https://fb.me/e/1GMCMnhcl |
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Join AICHO and Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe tribal member and artist Karen Savage-Blue on October 28 at 7 pm CST via Zoom! Free and open to the public. Attendees can paint along but need to get their own supplies – See flyer for list. Free registration: https://forms.gle/oWHTaXFLcSEufJZW6. |
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MINANAAWIGWENDAMOWIN BILJIGAADEG United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee Nation) October 18, 2021 at 7:00pm CST on Zoom. U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo is visiting the Northland virtually. Join us for the exciting free event hosted by FDLTCC and AICHO. Joy Harjo is a writer and performer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She is serving her second term as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States. |
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Congratulations also to Ivy Vainio of First Nations Community Partner American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), who was one of 12 Indigenous people to receive a Maada’ookiing Grassroots Grant coordinated through the Northland Foundation.
The grant was awarded for Ivy’s project to create a billboard banner and companion poster to inspire Indigenous (and diverse) girls and youth to strive for more within their education and seek their potential. The billboard and poster feature Shoshone-Bannock tribal citizen and Red Lake Nation descendant Jennie Murillo who is in her third year of medical school at the University of Minnesota. Niigaanii in the Ojibwe language means “S/he leads.” The billboard banner will be installed on Life House, Duluth’s youth transitional housing complex in downtown Duluth for up to a year.- First Nations Development Institute 
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AICHO will be distributing 200 bags of food, household essentials, personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 health information via curbside pick-up. We will be distributing supplies on a first-come, first-served basis.
We are offering limited delivery services to elders, households in quarantine due to COVID-19, and those who are homebound. All deliveries will occur the week after curbside distribution. To make a request for delivery, register by emailing foodaccess@aicho.org. We are planning our next distribution for October 27, 2021. Check this page regularly for updates in case of cancellations or postponements. |
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tremendously difficult on our community. We know that many of our community members have faced increasing food insecurity over the past year and resources are being stretched.
Miigwech to our community, for all the ways you help each other to stay healthy and give support to one another! |
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The Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and The Administration for Native Americans (ACF) want to extend an invitation to you to participate virtually in an event today (May 5th, 10AM Eastern time, Missing and Murdered Native Americans Awareness) to honor Missing and Murdered Native Americans. President Biden just issued the proclamation, which names May 5th as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/04/a-proclamation-on-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-persons-awareness-day-2021/ |
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AICHO honors the resiliency of Native American people by strengthening communities and centering Indigenous values in all aspects of our work; we provide housing and supportive services while also managing arts, cultural, and food sovereignty initiatives in Duluth, MN.
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Our operating philosophy is that every Native American deserves to live in a non-violent and non-threatening environment and has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
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SUPPORT OUR WORK
Make a financial contribution to AICHO today and support the projects you know and love.
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BOOK AN EVENT
Host an event at any of our locations. Choose between the art-filled Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, our front conference room at the Gimaajii building, our Lincoln Park location, Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market, Gardens, Gymnasium, and more....
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COME VISIT US
To book a tour, email darylo@aicho.org
Visit our Gift Shop IndigenousFirst.org Monday thru Friday from 10 AM - 5 PM Phone: (218) 590-3305 |
