By Lee Egerstrom
Groundbreaking ceremonies are planned for Oct. 15 in south Minneapolis when the Indigenous Peoples Task Force (IPTF) brings communities together to celebrate progress and remind everyone, in the words of the Ojibwe language, to “remember our teachings.”
The 3 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony is for the planned Mikwanedun Audisookon Center. The name is the Ojibwe words for remembering teachings anchored in Ojibwe culture that should guide the hearts and minds of all Americans.
The new center is a $12 million project to be built at 2313 13th Ave. S. in the Phillips Neighborhood. It is located between the Pillsbury United Community Center and Maynidoowahdak Odena Housing Community.
The IPTF was founded as a HIV health program in 1987 but has expanded its programs greatly in the years since. All programs, however, remain linked with the Seven Grandfather Teachings that come down through Ojibwe culture, said Executive Director Sharon Day.
These teachings are principles to live by, including Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility and Wisdom.
“Fulfilling these value systems is what makes us indigenous; the new building will be a central place where young people can come and learn what it means to be indigenous,” she said.
Day, who is Boise Forte Ojibwe, and other officers and board members at IPTF have Ojibwe, Dakota and other tribal backgrounds. But from their original community support programs onward, they have kept their programs anchored in the Grandfathers teachings.
IPTF still helps people with HIV and works to prevent further transmission of the disease. It explains on its website that it works to close “the health equity gap for Native American and other marginalized communities impacted by HIV/AIDS across the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.”
It continues to provide housing and management support assistance for people living with HIV. This includes HIV testing and it participates in needle exchange programs.
Expanding beyond that original mission, it now uses cultural arts in support programs for its neighborhood and especially its youths. “We use theater and visual arts to infuse our youth suicide prevention and teen pregnancy prevention programs. We train youth to be peer educators and the Ikidowin Youth Theater Ensemble performs throughout the region, even nationally,” it explains.
Other health programs are also anchored in indigenous roots, in what IPTF calls a returning to “first medicines.”
These include a tobacco cessation program to help people cope with stopping use of commercial tobacco products even as they honor Asemma, the sacred tobacco plant used in sacred ceremonies.
It has a Teaching Garden program that combines teaching “about gathering our sacred medicines, growing traditional foods and restoring our language,” it explains.
A related Indigi-Baby social enterprise program helps people grow, gather and source indigenous plants for feeding infants and toddlers native-based foods. This is part of a gardening program.
A spiritual base comes down through cultural connections as well. IPTF sponsors Nibi (water) Walks that are ceremonies to pray for the water. The organization sees this as a way to heal all of life by healing the water.
Mental health, suicide prevention, helping young people withstand bullying, are among programs and services provided to the diverse community.
These tie the Ojibwe community people together with their neighbors. As IPTF phrases it, this creates and urban sanctuary where body, mind and spirit can become whole by remembering the teachings.
The new building will help those efforts by including office space, training and education, a workshop and studio, theater, a gallery and community space.
While clearly anchored in Ojibwe traditional teaching, the task force said its programs are rooted in inclusiveness and respect for diversity.
“We welcome youth and adults of all backgrounds and are dedicated to being a good neighbor to our community,” it explains itself to its neighbors. “We are creating a vision of healing that will benefit all people and our mother earth.”
Its leaders reflect that commitment. Susan Allen, the chairperson, is an attorney by education and is of Ojibwe and Lakota heritage. Secretary-Treasurer Don Crofut is Muscogee Creek and president of the Shakopee Prior Lake Credit Union. Board members Misha Loeffler is Ojibwe and the cancer equity coordinator for the American Indian Cancer Foundation, while Dr. Anthony Stately is Ojibwe and Oneida and the CEO of the Native American Community Clinic.
Two other board members include Karen Clark, who was a longtime state representatives from the Phillips Neighborhood of south Minneapolis; and Kelley Lindquist, a renowned artist/architect.
To learn more about the Indigenous People’s Task Force see: https://indigenouspeoplestf.org/about-iptf/