The Minneapolis American Indian Center recently re-opened after a 32.5 million dollar renovation project.
Transcript
Marie Rock: This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.
The Minneapolis American Indian Center recently re-opened after a 32.5 million dollar renovation project. Reporter Travis Zimmerman attended the opening on May 1st.
Travis Zimmerman: On May 1st the Minneapolis American Indian Center had a Grand Re-Opening after having been closed for it’s first major overhaul since it opened in 1975. Board Member Dawn Paro, from Leech Lake, remembers the day the Center opened.
Dawn Paro: I was there the day it opened in 1975. I was in high school, and I worked there on a youth program I actually went to work there in 77 or 78 and I worked there with the employment training program. So I've been involved with the center ever since, basically since 1975. It's been like my second home since I was in high school.
TZ: The Re-Opening ceremony followed a parade to kick off American Indian Month. Lieutenant Governor, Peggy Flanagan, from White Earth was there, as were various tribal leaders. Peggy recognized the efforts of Mary LaGarde, the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s Director.
Peggy Flanagan: I would say this of Mary Lagarde, the dedication, the tenacity, because unending advocacy on the capital campaign, but also at the Minnesota state capitol, we are here for this ribbon cutting, all because of her and because of her love for the urban community.
TZ: The event also featured performances from Keith Secola, David Huckfeldt, Lelan Leecy and the Sampson Brothers. A few hundred people attended the opening where the atmosphere was one of pride, excitement and awe at the new building and expanded footprint-from 20,000 square feet to 66,000 square feet. Dawn Paro elaborates…
DP: I was literally in tears because it was so beautiful and it's such an amazing place and it's to me it's like a dream come true because it's been in the works for so long.
I was wandering around and I was just asking random people that were there what they thought of it, you know, elders and adults and kids. And they were all just really, really excited. And I got a lot of really good comments about it from the community. So that makes it all worthwhile.
TZ: Lyle Iron Moccasin, Lakota, the Re-Entry Coordinator at the American Indian OIC, has been coming to the Center for 35 years.
Lyle Iron Moccasin: This is incredible. It's one of the most dynamic spots you'll find in the metro area now, without a doubt, they've done a very good job of setting up and distributing the space so that it can be used not only by our community, but outside communities can come in and utilize it.
TZ: One of the main attractions to the Center will be the Gatherings Café, run by Executive Chef Vern Defoe, a member of the Red Cliff Band in Wisconsin. Vern is excited to serve food in the heart of Minneapolis American Indian community.
Vern Defoe: First off, we're like right in the heart of the native corridor pretty much and there aren't very many places to eat around here. There's another little cafe down the road, but it's mostly native people that live around here, and I think it's important because we're going to be serving a lot of food with indigenous ingredients. Besides, just having the cafe that's open to the public, I will be doing cooking demos anything food related that has to do with education.
I purchased product from a lot of native producers. Like we get our wild rice from Spirit Lake up in Fond du Lac. We get fish from Red Lake and Little Earth is going to be starting up basically a fish hatchery and so we're going to be getting fish straight from, you know, a few blocks down the road.
The plan is to do breakfast and lunch. So we'll be opening up at 7 and serving food till about 3. Just to start off, and that's Monday through Friday, things will probably change just kind of as we get into the swing of it.
TZ: Visitors to the center will see a familiar face in Charlie Stately, who runs the Woodland Indian Crafts gift shop and they will also be able to enjoy the exhibits at the Two River Gallery. The Minneapolis American Indian Center’s long history of providing resources and support for the urban Native community will continue. It will have an emphasis on activities for youth and elders, with a refurbished gym, a new teen tech center and a new dining area for elders. Check out the new space at 1530 East Franklin Avenue and find programming information at maicnet.org.
TZ: For Minnesota Native News, this is Travis Zimmerman.