Collaborations, Development, and Programs
The Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) plays a diverse role in the Indigenous Community.
Here is a sampling of some of the things we've co-produced,
participated in, or sponsored in recent years:
Four Sisters Farmers Market
Four Sisters Farmers Market is an Indigenous-centered food market, focused on both Indigenous and hyper-local foods from Phillips and surrounding neighborhoods. The market is a program of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI). Working with native-run farms and food producers, we will help develop a healthy, Indigenous food system that is accessible and welcoming to people in Phillips.
Seed Week
A week-long celebration of seeds through storytelling, art, music, gardening demonstrations, and the book release of Diane Wilson’s latest publication, The Seed Keeper. All My Relations Arts has collaborated with multiple organizations whose work addresses seeds and uplifts the importance of seeds in our cultural traditions. Beginning with historical traditional storytelling to youth leaders, Seed Week features a variety of voices celebrating the importance of seeds.
Read more about Seed Week and watch the webinar recordings here.
Friends of the Falls
NACDI welcomes a new partnership with Friends of the Falls, with an opportunity to build authentic, long-term relationships with Frist Nations people and shaping the future of the Upper Lock at Owamni.
Illuminating the Lock:
Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard by Moira VilliardMadweyaashkaa celebrates the resilience of Indigenous women on a spectacular scale. An animation projected onto the 400 x 49 foot wall of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is synced with a soundscape of music composed by Lyz Jaakola (Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe direct descendant) and a recorded narrative by Dakota/Ojibway First Nation elder Millie Richard. Viewers will also find three silent video projections with flickers of imagery from the main video distributed around the lock.
This project is a partnership with All My Relations Arts, a program of Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), Northern Lights.mn, Mississippi Park Connection and Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and is supported through a grant from the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board.
Make Voting a Tradition
Make Voting a Tradition (MVAT) is a project of NACDI to increase the amount of voter turnout in American Indian communities.
MVAT recruits volunteers to do voter engagement work like going door to door registering voters in the Native community. MVAT is created as a partnership with the City of Minneapolis. Understanding the importance of our vote will help the Indigenous community shape policy in the years to come.
This illustration was created by artist William Brien to commemorate the 2020 election and a family voting together.
Download the coloring page image here.
American Indian Cultural Corridor
Every year NACDI takes a leadership role in community-based projects and events like Open Streets/Franklin, Indian Month parades, and Pow Wows. As well as helping to facilitate the indigenous-inspired photo wraps on utility boxes (pictured).
Find out how you can volunteer for NACDI by emailing arts@nacdi.org.
