ONGOING
Grief Support Group
An open group that provides space for community members to connect with one another, share their experiences, learn new coping skills, gain insights into their grief, and find mutual support. Hosted via Zoom every Tuesday from 3 pm to 4 pm by Aimee Morano, LGSW, at the Indian Health Board. New participants are welcome. Call 612-843-5981.
MAIC Events
See events at the Mpls American Indian Center on their updated website. MAIC events listings: Sewing Circle, Running Club, Drum and Dance, Pickup Basketball, Volleyball, Congregate Dining and more. MAIC, 1530 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis. See more at: https://www.maicnet.org/upcoming-events.
Feb 8
Community Connections Conf: Participation is Power
The City of Minneapolis is organizing this year’s event around the power of participating in your community and local decision-making. Our theme this year will be “Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow.” You’re invited to join the City of Minneapolis and over 150 organizations to connect, share resources and get involved in local decision-making. This year’s free event will have workshops, music and dance, fun activities for kids, a scavenger hunt, jobs and internships, an expo and a community conversation on health. Lunch included. The Community Connections Conference is an annual free event that connects residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods and local government. We invite people to: Speak: Voice your opinion about important upcoming projects and decision-making. Act: Take action by voting, joining a neighborhood organization board or a City appointed board. Grow: Learn skills and information you can use to improve your neighborhood, community and life. 9am to 4pm. Minneapolis Convention Center, first floor, Hall E, Minneapolils. For info: minneapolismn.gov/ccc.
Feb 14
Free Valentine’s Day weddings
Couples hoping for a Valentine’s Day wedding will get help from the Minnesota Judicial Branch, as judges throughout the state offer free marriages. Couples wishing to have a judge marry them on Valentine’s Day should check the website and follow the directions for registering for a free wedding. Each courthouse has a limited number of wedding ceremony times, so appointments are required—no walk-ins. Couples do not need to reside in the county in which they plan to marry, but they must have a valid marriage license in that county before a wedding can be performed. See info: https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/NewsAnd Announcements/ItemDetail.aspx?id=2437
Feb 14
MMIW Relatives Day of Action and Remembrance
There will be rallies and gatherings across the state to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. A march will take place at the Minneapolis American Indian Center from 11am to 2pm. MAIC, 1530 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis. For more info, see: https://miwsac.co/2025MMIR.
Feb 15
Robert DesJarlait Exhibit
Watermark Art Center will hold an opening reception for Robert DesJarlait (Red Lake Nation) on Feb 15 from 5 to 7pm. The reception will open with a hand drum ceremony featuring DesJarlait’s son Miziway Migizi. DesJarlait’s exhibit Inaaband Mitigwaki or “Woodland Vision” depicts, documents, and defines the life of the Ojibwe people as he perceives it visually. His work engages the viewer in a visual language through which cultural diversity is the message. Exhibit runs thru April 11, 2025. Watermark Art Center, 505 Bemidji Ave N, Bemidji, MN. For more info, see: watermarkartcenter.org.
Feb 18
Twin Cities EATSS
The American Indian College Fund will host an evening of live entertainment, learning, and a concert by Rufus Wainwright at the Guthrie Theater. The event will feature Indigenous chefs and food, and all proceeds will benefit the American Indian College Fund. All proceeds from this event benefit the American Indian College. Concert-only seating: $100. EATSS event and concert seating: $195. Guthrie Theater, 818 S 2nd St, Minneapolis. See website for schedule. https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/specialevents/eatss-event.
Feb 20
Watermark Art Center’s first slam of 2025
Get your poems ready for the Watermark Art Center’s first slam of 2025. The slam is FREE to participate and FREE to watch. Cash prizes will be given to the top three performers. A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges pulled from the audience. Poets are not required to memorize their poems and are welcome to use notes. Live music will begin at 6pm. Performances begin at 7pm. Poets may call Watermark to pre-register 218-444-7570. Registration is also available at the venue if space allows. Fozzie’s Smokin’ BBQ at 114 3rd St NW, Bemidji. For info: watermarkartcenter.org/poetry-slam-news.
Feb 20
Smart Wars: Many Shields Exhibit
All My Relations Arts: Many Shields, a solo exhibition from multimedia artist Rory Wakemup (Ojibwe). Smart Wars is a flip-the-script, satirical exhibition featuring works that assert Native identity, resilience, resistance and coexistence with our planet from multimedia artist Rory Wakemup. A continuation of his series, Divest or Die, Wakemup’s work is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of culture vs controversy through the use of sculpture and installation. His exquisitely designed outfits are meant to subvert and amuse while commenting on social, political, and climate issues. Infusing traditional methods and materials, Wakemup’s regalia is designed for 21st-century Indian warriors. This exhibition marks the artist’s first solo exhibition at the gallery. Opening reception and Artist Talk will be held February 20th from 6-8pm, Artist talk begins at 7pm. Exhibit runs thru April 5. For info, see: allmyrelationsarts.org.
Feb 26 (deadline)
2025 Widookodaadiwag (Helping Others) Scholarship
The application for Ain Dah Yung Center’s 2025 Widookodaadiwag (Helping Others) Scholarship is now available. All applicants who have been participants in any of ADYC’s housing or other programs (current or past) are encouraged to apply if they meet the criteria. This annual scholarship fund is made possible because of a generous donor. Depending on the number of applicants, awards will range from $250 – $2500. The Scholarship Fund application is due no later than February 26th. Awards will be announced on or before March 28. Please return application with requested documentation to angie.deegan@ adycenter.org. The application and eligibility requirements are at: https://www.adycenter.org/about/scholarship.
March 3 – 4
4th Annual Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting the 4th Annual Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium. The goal of the symposium is to bring people working in Dakota and Ojibwe languages revitalization together. We will use this time to celebrate successes, highlight the current state of the field, shape future language revitalization efforts, and elevate the visibility of Indigenous languages throughout the state of Minnesota. By bringing people together, we hope this symposium serves as an opportunity for individuals to network with other Dakota and Ojibwe language professionals. This year the symposium will be held at Black Bear Casino Resort, 1785 MN-210, Carlton, MN. For more info, see: https://www.mnhum.org/event/dakota-ojibwe-languages-symposium-2025.
March 15 (deadline)
Native Youth Grant
We are awarding $1,000 grants to Native youth aged 13 to 17 living in the Twin Cities Metro. Applicants must reside in the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott, Ramsey, and Washington counties. Youth applicants are required to: Attend the AIFEP Workshop on Feb 11. )RSVP by emailing tony@tiwahefoundation.org.) And participate in the AIFEP Youth Mentorship Program, a year-long journey of guidance and support. For info: https://tiwahefoundation.org/aifep.
