Native American Community Development Institute - NACDI

The Headwaters Foundation for Justice is a longtime funder that supports all levels of our work. Miigwech, pidamaya, pinagigi!

"We aren’t merciless, we are relentless," Native Organizers Alliance's Judith Leblanc says about the American Indian people, who have kept our communities strong throughout generations of systemic injustices. Whether facing genocidal practices, violations of treaties, or immigration crack downs, Judith acknowledges the hard work of keeping communities together in her article "A Love Letter to the Merciless Indian Savage."

She also gives NACDI and Pow Wow Grounds a shout out!

Read here: https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/a-love-letter-to-the-merciless-indian-savage/

Join us this Thursday, July 9th, from 6 - 8 pm for the opening reception of “Sakowin Synergy” at All My Relations Arts !

Curated by mixed media artist Ray Janis, “Sakowin Synergy” is a dynamic and innovative group exhibition that brings together the powerful and diverse works of four contemporary artists: Ray “Rock Boy” Janis (Oglala Lakota), Sheldon Starr (Oglala Lakota), Jim Yellow Hawk (Itazipco Band of Cheyenne River Sioux), and Dwayne “Chuck” Wilcox (Oglala Lakota).

The title itself is a statement of cultural identity and artistic connection. “Sakowin” is a reference to the Oceti Sakowin—The Seven Council Fires—acknowledging the collective heritage and spirit that informs and grounds their art. “Synergy,” speaks directly to the collaborative energy and mutual inspiration that defines this project, representing a concerted effort to propel their shared Native art forms into new spheres. This exhibition is woven together with deep respect for tradition and a bold embrace of modernity.

Exhibition Run: July 9th – September 5th, 2026�
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 9th, 6- 8 pm at All My Relations Gallery.�Free and open to the public. All are welcome. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Join Native Organizers Alliance and Brave Heart Society for a presentation on the environmental and ecological impacts of AI and data centers for Tribal Nations.

Zam DeShields will be leading the presentation, a Chickasaw Nation citizen and technology strategist specializing in AI governance, Indigenous data sovereignty, and digital privacy.

Register now: https://loom.ly/4DKR_Xg

So much good stuff at the Four Sisters Farmers Market today!

🎶 Catch a performance at noon from local afro-Indigenous (Black & Nahua) James Harvin Official , as he celebrates the release of his new album "IMPACT". James is also a vendor at the market with his clothing business, "Duality Collection." Join us for his soulful R & B/ Pop sound!
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The Four Sisters Farmers Market is an Indigenous-focused farmers market that provides increased access to affordable, healthy, culturally appropriate local foods within the American Indian Cultural Corridor. 🌱

We welcome and accept SNAP/EBT benefits, Market Bucks, cash, and cards. Stop by the manager’s table to see how $10 in SNAP benefits can get you triple the money to spend on goods at the market!

Celebrate in community with Pride! We are lucky here in the Twin Cities to have Native LGBTQ and Two Spirit events happening this month. 🏳️‍🌈 😄

The Fifth Annual Reclaiming Our Identities Two-Spirit Powwow hosted by New Native Theatre is on Tuesday, June 23rd at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Registration begins at 3pm with Grand Entry at 5:30pm. All Dancers and Drums Welcome! Honorarium for First 40 Registered Dancers! Day Pay for Singers!

The Minnesota Museum of American Art is hosting the Queering Indigeneity exhibition is a great visit this Pride Month. Queering Indigeneity is a multi-year, multi-generational project that celebrates the vision and diversity of 2-Spirit, Native q***r, gender expansive artists in the Upper Midwest.

The Textile Center is hosting the Two Spirit Stories exhibition until July! Two-Spirit Stories showcases the work of emerging Two-Spirit Native artists residing in Minnesota. In a celebration of traditional and contemporary handwork, these artists are affirming Indigenous and q***r identity using themes of ceremony, community, and ancestral tradition.

The Franklin Avenue East Cultural Corridor is one of Minneapolis’ most vibrant and diverse community spaces. Yet for many residents and visitors, the corridor can feel disconnected – particularly at the Hiawatha Avenue crossing, where physical barriers and a lack of visual continuity divide this shared cultural district.

Through a series of community events, Redesign, Inc. and NACDI are bringing together residents, business owners, artists, cultural organizations, and community leaders to strengthen connections across the corridor, celebrate the area’s unique identity, and help shape its future. We hope you can join us!

Community Gathering & Visioning Session: Monday, June 22, 4 - 6 pm.
Learn more & RSVP: https://loom.ly/l_P_g_g

Franklin Ave East Cultural Corridor Walking Tour: Friday, June 26, 10 am - 11 am.

Learn more & RSVP: https://loom.ly/65dRw-c

Connecting Franklin: Community Gathering & Visioning Session Join us for an evening of food, conversation, and community visioning as we explore ways to strengthen connections along Franklin Avenue.

📆 Save the date for Monday, June 22nd, for the Protecting Pipestone: Community Briefing & Public Comment Workshop.

Pipestone has been a sacred place for Indigenous peoples since time immemorial; a place of prayer, ceremony, and connection. Today, this sacred place faces renewed threats from the proposed Magellan pipeline reroute, and community voices are needed now more than ever to deny any permit and protect Pipestone.

Join Indigenous Protector Movement, Brave Heart Society, and Indigenous Environmental Network for an afternoon of learning, discussion, and action. We will explore the cultural, spiritual, historical, ecological, and geological significance of Pipestone, hear updates on the current permit process, and discuss why this moment is so important.

After the presentations, volunteers will be available to help community members submit comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission before the public comment period closes.

🗓 June 22 | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Minneapolis American Indian Center
Whether you're already involved or just learning about Pipestone for the first time, we invite you to join us, ask questions, and stand up for one of the most sacred places on this continent.

No pipeline. No reroute. Protect Pipestone.

📍 Protecting Pipestone: Community Briefing & Public Comment Workshop
Pipestone has been a sacred place for Indigenous peoples since time immemorial; a place of prayer, ceremony, and connection. Today, this sacred place faces renewed threats from the proposed Magellan pipeline reroute, and community voices are needed now more than ever to deny any permit and protect Pipestone.
Join Indigenous Protector Movement, Brave Heart Society, and Indigenous Environmental Network for an afternoon of learning, discussion, and action. We will explore the cultural, spiritual, historical, ecological, and geological significance of Pipestone, hear updates on the current permit process, and discuss why this moment is so important.
After the presentations, volunteers will be available to help community members submit comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission before the public comment period closes.
🗓 June 22 | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Minneapolis American Indian Center
Whether you're already involved or just learning about Pipestone for the first time, we invite you to join us, ask questions, and stand up for one of the most sacred places on this continent.
No pipeline. No reroute. Protect Pipestone.