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Wisdom from our youth

11/8/2022

 
It's National American Indian Heritage Month. AICHO asked some questions to our Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow Youth Program participants to share their perspectives of what it means for them to be American Indian and what they would want to share with others about their Indigenous experience. Miigwech to these youth for their leadership, bravery and knowledge in sharing their Indigenous worldview with all of us. Let's listen to their Nibwaakaawin - their wisdom.
Imagine that a friend came to you and asked you to explain what Native American Heritage Month is. What would you tell your friend? 

Kendal: To tell them of how far our native ancestors that went through many struggles to be here today. To be grateful that our heritage is still being practiced because of what they did.
 
Ayeden: If a friend or someone asks me then I would tell them that it is a month to recognize Native American people who were here before colonizers.

Elijah: I would explain that Native American Heritage month is to recognize and remember all that there is that has led past generations down towards the current path this current generation walks, every hardship, every sweat, blood and tears that has laid down the pavement for this future we live now is recognized.

Patience: Native American heritage month is a way for people to either learn more about their own culture, the history, the feeling, the beliefs, stories, teachings, etc. Also, for people to learn of others heritage, to bring awareness to our(native Americans) heritage and culture. ​
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Pictured: Kendal. Portraits of AICHO Youth by Ivy Vainio.
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Pictured: Ayeden
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Pictured Elijah
As youth, how would you describe how being Native American affects you today at home, school, and in the community? 

Kendal: It’s the missing piece of who I am. It completes who I was meant to be. To show that there is not just one way to look at life or, things in life. Take advantage of every lesson taught and use that new profound knowledge to look at things another way. - Kendal Kot
 
Ayeden: I would say sometimes I think its a struggle between all the racism that happens between the community but it doesn't really affect me because I correct them by telling them what's right.

Elijah: As an indigenous youth I think being Native American will be with me wherever I go, it’s an inherent part of my identity that I carry within every cell in my body.

Patience: Well in today's way of society, it really doesn't matter on your race, yes you get asked questions on /what's it like/ or explaining things they've heard about /indians/ in a home, you get to learn teachings, 7 generations, your language and your history. At school, you get questions on your race rarely, but you are able to choose things to express your heritage, for example ; drumming or Ojibwe language classes. And in the community, if somebody is unknowing of their culture, you can teach that (being your from the same one). You can express yourself in many ways. 
What challenges or teachings have you overcome/learned being a Native American in 2022? 

Kendal: It’s ok to have different ideologies, You don’t have to agree with what most people say or think. Don’t let people tell you how to live your life and stay strong amidst the fiercest of storms because, all storms eventually fade away.
 
Ayeden: I learned that this is who I am and that I can do a lot in my culture and I will stick with learning more about it and I want to continue to do stuff and also I learned how to stand up for my culture.

Elijah: Through early January I was dealing with a lot of battles and work I needed to put in, and throughout this process being able to take my ojibwe language classes helped me with overcoming my battles through my connection with language.

Patience: I've learned the 7 generations, I've learned the medicines through nature, the way to play a hand drum, our medicine dance, every child matters movement, and much more. There's a lot you can learn about this heritage. And native Americans heritage month, is the perfect place to start. ​​
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Pictured Patience

AICHO youth attend cultural community feast

8/29/2022

 
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Photos by Kayla Jackson
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​Our Giinawiind and Gimaajii kids participated in the Fond du Lac Band Gitigaan’s Gitigaan Wiikondiyag Garden Feast today. We played traditional lacrosse for a couple hours, went swimming at Kiwenz Campground, then toured the Gitigaan garden and ate food from the Feast. It was a full eventful day. 

Miigwech to Giinawiind and Gimaajii Youth program staff Kayla Jackson for bringing these youth to this event where they got to learn about and reconnect with culture, traditions, Indigenous food and to the land. The youth also volunteered and helped at the event as well. 

Photos by Ivy Vainio

AICHO youth make kimchi

8/10/2022

5 Comments

 
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AICHO youth participants learn how food is medicine by making vegan kimchi with food sovereignty activists Luke and Linda Black Elk. Both Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow and Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin youth participants came together at AICHO’s rooftop garden to learn about the traditional and popular Korean fermented food called kimchi and the nutritious values associated with fermentation. They chopped up cabbage, ginger
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The Black Elks were delighted to see what was growing on the rooftop garden. They shared teachings about the different vegetables and herbs. Photos by Ivy Vainio.
​Luke and Linda Black elk are food sovereignty activists and teachers of traditional plant use, gardening, food preservation, and forating. They spend their time collecting and preparing traditional foods and medicines for Indigenous peoples and communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and beyond. They involved their children in this work so that they may learn about the importance of feeding themselves and their communities with traditional medicines, healing them mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
​After lunch, Linda took the group on a walk around Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin and the Dr. Robert Powless Center, showing them over 10 different medicinal plants that were growing in the surrounding area. What people commonly thought of as weeds turned out to be traditional medicines used by the Anishinaabe past and present.
​AICHO says miigwech to Luke and Linda Black Elk for teaching us to look at food as medicine and for the plant walk in downtown Duluth. We learned to value the medicine growing in the concrete jungle of Duluth all around us. 

Miigwech to AICHO Staff Ivy Vainio, Kayla Jackson, Cheryl Stone and Mia Menendez for organizing this cultural experience for our program youth. Miigwech Avery Makes Room For Them for making us such a delicious meal.

This activity was funded in part by Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division, Northland Foundation, Ordean Foundation, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, and Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family Centers. ​
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AICHO youth created artwork with Shaun Chosa

8/5/2022

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​Artist Shaun Chosa led art class with Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow program youth and Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin youth. Shaun Chosa is a Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe tribal member. Photos by Ivy Vainio.
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AICHO runs for Ojibwe solidarity and collective healing

7/14/2022

 
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AICHO staff Kayla Jackson running alongside Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin youth carrying a cultural staff provided by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. Photo by Ivy Vainio
On a hot Wednesday evening, a team made up of AICHO staff and Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin families came together to collectively run and walk 20 miles. Each step they took was a prayer to heal themselves as Indigenous people and stand in solidarity against racism and hatred directed towards Ojibwe people throughout Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Their steps contributed towards the solidarity relay called The Healing Circle Run organized by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
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AICHO staff Nicole Thole, Avery Makes Room For Them and Sasheen Goslin refueled with food sponsored by AICHO. The AICHO group was gifted eagle feathers to wear during their miles (as seen pinned on their shirts).
​The Healing Circle Run began in 1989 as a response to the escalated animosity towards Ojibwe people brought on by protests against tribes reasserting hunting, fishing, and gathering rights in the Ojibwe ceded territories of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The seven-day relay is a collective prayer to bring healing to participants, their families, reservations, the communities they pass through, the nation and the earth. Runners endure the long journey under the summer sun and heat, persevering through exhaustion. It is a sacrifice runners make to heal their loved ones and communities suffering from addiction, violence and untreated intergenerational, historical trauma.

The relay route connects 10 Ojibwe nations including Lac Du Flambeau, Mole Lake, Lac Vieux Desert, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Bad River, Red Cliff, Fond du Lac, Mille Lacs, St. Croix, and Lac Courte Oreilles, covering 600 miles. AICHO pledged and completed 20 miles on July 13, 2022, the fifth day of the relay in South Superior.
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Sasheen holding her eagle feather fan.
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AICHO says miigwech to staff member Sasheen Goslin who took the lead in organizing the team and its participation in the run. Miigwech to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and St. Louis County Public Health for their part in funding AICHO’s involvement.
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AICHO staff Ivy Vainio ran wearing her ribbon skirt. Photo by Juliana Stoner
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AICHO’s Dabinoo’Igan staff Jen Davey and Deanna Reder ran and walked 6.2 miles together. Photo by Ivy Vainio
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Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin youth took turns holding the staff during the run.
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After running a long ways, AICHO’s AmeriCorps VISTA member Julaian Stoner slowed down her pace and walked, all the while enjoying the nature around her.

Young Leaders: Native American students tour AICHO

7/14/2022

 
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Photo by Ivy Vainio
​The Native Americans into Medicine summer program took a tour at AICHO to learn more about AICHO’s missions, priorities and community initiatives to address and advocate for health justice and access in our communities on July 13, 2022

The Native Americans into Medicine summer program is a six-week summer enrichment program for undergraduate students pursing careers in health and medicine through the University of Minnesota.

The students learned about AICHO programming from Co-Executive Director LeAnn Littlewolf, the Indigenous First Gift Shop from Khayman Goodsky, and AICHO Galleries and Cultural Arts programming from Ivy Vainio. Miigwech NAM for visiting AICHO!

Manoominike Ready: AICHO youth make ricing poles

7/14/2022

 
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Photos by Ivy Vainio
Youth learned to make traditional Anishinaabe wild rice poles through AICHO’s Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow Youth Program.

​Through this hands-on workshop, guided by Michaa Aubid (East Lake Anishinaabe) and Veronica Skinaway (Sandy Lake Anishinaabe), program participants learned the importance of treaty rights, how to operate power tools and how to knock rice with rice knockers. This knowledge is important when participating in the wild rice harvest, called manoominike in Anishinaabemowin.
If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it.” - Johan Huizing, historian
​Last year, the program youth learned how to make wild rice knockers in a workshop taught by 1854 Treaty Authority, passing harvesting knowledge to the youth. In September, the Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin program will participate in the annual manoominike with Ron Willis, under the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College CYFAR Grant activity.
AICHO says miigwech to Michaa Aubid and Veronica Skinaway for teaching our program youth and staff about manoominike, the Anishinaabe words connected to harvesting rice and for allowing our youth to make ricing poles.

Miigwech to AICHO staff Ivy Vainio for coordinating this cultural activity with assistance from Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin program coordinator Kayla Jackson, Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin Children’s Program coordinator Mia Menendez and Cheryl Stone and AICHO’s property caretaker Scott Thompson.

This event was funded in part by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division.

Reconnect: AICHO Youth field trip to Indigenous farm to learn traditional medicines and foods

7/1/2022

 
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Photos by Ivy Vainio
​To learn about medicinal properties of various Indigenous plant infusions, Anishinaabe food and traditions, AICHO youth visited the Native Wise LLC farm on the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe Reservation on June 30, 2022
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David and Patra Wise fo Native Wise LLC guided youth from both the Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin: Together We Grow Youth Program and Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin Children’s Program came together in making a salve. Youth chose two Indigenous plant infusions to make into salves.
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David took the group on a nature walk and introduced numerous Indigenous plants they walked past and explained the traditional uses of the plants.
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After the walk, the group ate smoked moose sausage with jalepeño and cheese, all made on the farm, wild rice hotdish made with moose meat and home processed beef burger.
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Such a wonderful time for everyone, especially our youth who were connected to Anishinaabeg cultural foods, plants, traditions, stories, and wisdom. We are grateful.
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AICHO says miigwech to David and Patra for sharing their knowledge to AICHO youth. Photo by Patience Thompson, 13 year-old Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin program participant.
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Miigwech to Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin program coordinator Kayla Jackson and AICHO staff Ivy Vainio for organizing the field trip, and miigwech to Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin Children’s Program coordinators Mia Menendez and Cheryl Stone and intern Ellie Waring for assisting. Photo by Channing Powers, 10 year-old Giinawiind Giginitaawigi’gomin program participant.
Programs are funded in part by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division, Northland Foundation, United Way, Sheltering Arms Child Development and Family Support, and Statewide Health Improvement Partnership.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Programming & Services >
      • All Services & Our Model
      • Zaaga'Iganing Anishinaabe Food Sovereignty >
        • Resources
        • Spotlights
        • Cultural Arts & Food Sovereignty
        • Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market
      • Youth Engagement
      • Giinawiind Giginitaawigi'gomin
      • Cultural Arts Program >
        • Art Exhibits
        • Artist Spotlights
        • Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop
      • Domestic Violence Shelter >
        • Dabinoo'Igan
    • Water Protector Mural
    • Regional Cultural Treasures
  • Events
    • Dabinoo'Igan Concert Fundraiser
    • Aanjitoon: Anishinaabe Art Through a Contemporary Lens
    • Brave Art Youth Exhibition
    • Group Art Exhibition 2022
    • Indigenous Food & Art Markets
    • Community Events
  • News
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Outreach Materials
    • Videos
    • 2023 Art Exhibitions
  • Resources
    • Suicide Prevention Resources
    • COVID-19 >
      • COVID-19 Information and Response
      • AICHO Artists Respond to COVID-19
  • Contact
  • Tenant Resources
    • Family Activities
    • Work Orders & Maintenance
  • Gift Shop
  • Food Distribution