American Indian Community Housing Organization

TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER TO AMERICAN INDIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

HOUSING AND SUPPORT 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. DABINOOIGAN 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. 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.

COVID-19 RESPONSE: COVID RECOVERY PROGRAM, AICHO PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE COVID RESPONSE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION; VACCINE AND TESTING CLINICS; CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COVID MESSAGING; WORKING WITH LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES TO ENSURE SAFETY OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ARTS AND 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. 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. 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.