The Minneapolis American Indian Center opened its doors on Franklin Avenue in 1975 to provide a central gathering space and essential services for the growing Native population in the Twin Cities. During the 1960s and ’70s, many Native people were moving into urban areas due to federal relocation policies that both incentivized and forced relocation from reservations to cities for work.
This year, the center reached a major milestone—celebrating 50 years as the heart of the Twin Cities’ urban Native community.
Since its founding, the center has been a community staple, serving thousands of people through its employment, social service, cultural, education, youth, health, and elder programs. Many more visit for powwows, meetings, community forums, and to shop and eat at Gatherings Café. Located in the heart of the American Indian Cultural Corridor, the center is a place where everyone can experience Native food, art, and culture.
Our programs and spaces have evolved over the years to meet the needs of our people, but we’ve remained steadfast in our mission to provide essential services to the Native community and to help move us all toward a brighter future.
This anniversary was an opportunity to honor the center’s rich legacy and history while looking to the future. We celebrated the milestone with a gala in September, transforming the building with twinkling lights in the gym and a red carpet at the doorway. Partners, neighbors, community members, and supporters of the center came together and dressed up for the occasion. The evening featured live music, an aerial performance, dancing, and dinner from Gatherings Café. The event was emceed by Bobby Wilson—an artist, comedian, writer, and actor from the shows Reservation Dogs, ECHO, and Rutherford Falls—who grew up in the neighborhood…