The Sweetgrass Model

AICHO is at a turning point in its history. We discovered early on that the intersectionality of issues our people face couldn’t be addressed by established mainstream systems - they require an equally intersectional approach, and we’ve successfully developed a model using art and culture as its catalyst.

Louis Riel famously said, “My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back."
Our spirit of innovation is tied to our Indigenous community, the artists, and our commitment to create community change. We strive for change that brings about concrete improvements for our people, rooted in the context of our community conditions. Our values and our artists are spearheading this social change, and are providing solutions to not just our own communities, but problems faced by the world at large.

HOUSING &
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin - We are, all of us together, beginning a good life.  AICHO's headquarters at 202 W. 2nd Street in Duluth. Gimaajii features 29-units of permanent, supportive housing utilizing the “housing first” model. On-site services include assessment, advocacy, limited case management, and limited programming.  Case management and mental health services are provided through a partnership with White Earth Mental Health.
Gimaajii also provides a place for people who have a common history and culture to come together, to learn from others, and to share that culture with others. In the traditional manner of respecting elders, life-long learning is encouraged throughout the Gimaajii.

Dabinoo'Igan Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter - A place where you are safe, comforted and sheltered. Dabinoo’Igan is a 10-bed emergency shelter for victims of physical and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking who need immediate shelter.  Women and children can stay up to 30 days and receive a variety of services including advocacy, information and referral, housing search assistance, financial assistance, limited follow-up, limited on-site legal services and culturally specific programming.

If you are currently fleeing domestic violence and in need of support, call our Hotline at 218-722-2247.

Day One Emergency Shelter and Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-866-223-1111.

Endazhi-Maadaajimon - A place where stories begin. Endazhi-Maadaajimon is a ten unit building which provides long-term housing options for individuals and families that already have access to housing vouchers.  Case management is provided through other programs and not offered as part of the housing.

Legal Advocacy Services - Advocates work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. Services include protection orders, court advocacy, transporting to appointments, and transportation for court/legal appointments.

Legal advocates can assist with writing and filing Order for Protections and Harassment Orders, safety planning, custody barriers, and sexual assault cases. They can aid in filing for crime victims' compensation, preparing victim impact statements for sentencing, and provide additional resources and referrals for individuals and families.

ARTS &
CULTURE

Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center - As an extension of the Gimaajii building, the Powless Center serves as AICHO's main art exhibition space and performance venue. Of the thousands of people who pass through AICHO's doors every year, a large portion are guests at events in the Center. It caters to a diverse audience and has served as the site for many kinds of events, including trainings and conferences, dance installations, film screenings, exhibits, concerts, poetry slams, award ceremonies, cultural ceremonies, feasts, weddings, and more. We are also an official venue with the Duluth Superior Film Festival and Homegrown Music Festival.

To book an event in the Powless Center, contact our front desk at 218-722-7225 or fill out a contact form on our website with details about your vision. There are a lot of factors that play into what it might cost to book the space, so we highly recommend you call to see what your options are. We get a high volume of use requests so make sure to book the space as soon as you can.

For arts-related bookings, grants exist in the community to help fund costs associated with space rentals and even the creation of new work or music. An example is the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.

Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop - We sell quality gifts and goods with a mission of advancing, promoting, and investing in Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs. Indigenous First is a continuously expanding social enterprise run by AICHO in its Gimaajii building.

Our holistic, mission-based dedication to building opportunity for Indigenous people is rooted in a vision of health and vibrancy, honoring the resiliency of our community and perpetually acting with future generations in mind.

2301 Arts Building - Located at 2301 W. Superior Street in Duluth, our intention is to develop this space into a coffee shop, art space and community venue for the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Currently, it serves as an extended site for out Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop on Saturdays as we further develop the building itself.

SUSTAINABILITY &
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

 Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market - In July 2018, AICHO purchased the former corner grocery store, the 4th Street Market, in the Duluth Central Hillside neighborhood and is in process to renovate the property into an Indigenous food market, deli with healthy, Indigenous grab-and-go options and coffee shop with community education/meeting space. Healthy, fresh food will be available, increasing access to a low-income neighborhood, and creating regional access to nutrient-dense traditional Indigenous food products. This is part of AICHO's efforts to create community engagement in food sovereignty principles and collective community shifts in healthy eating practices through improved access.

Children's Program - kids living in the Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin have access to a range of cultural activities both on and off site; from field trips to go wild ricing to tending sacred medicines in one of our urban gardens, to selling their own food products at the farmer's market, our youth are becoming great leaders in the community!

A Natural Fit from Power Of Minnesota on Vimeo.

Climate & Cultural Resilience Initiative - In 2017, AICHO received a grant from Enterprise Community Partners to explore ways to overlap sustainability efforts with cultural practices. From this grant, we were able to develop our two urban gardens, implement the Water Protector mural designed by NSRGNTS, implement a worm compost system, explore rainwater collection options, and build 16.5 kilowatt solar array on the roof of the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. AICHO is committed to making sure we leave a better world for future generations, and as such we will continue our efforts to promote awareness and cultural solutions in the face of environmental crisis.