• WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag

      "They Help Each Other"

      A project of the Native American Community Development Institute

    • About WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO*

      *They Help Each Other

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO (They Help Each Other) is a series of gatherings which will center Native voices in the effort to create grassroots solutions to the issues facing the Indigenous community, especially the challenge of creating culturally appropriate and affordable housing, shelter and supportive services. The gatherings will be hosted by the Native American Community Development Institute with the generous support of the Bush Foundation.

    • History

      The genesis of WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO*

      (*They Help Each Other) ​

      In the Spring of 2018, a small cluster of tents appeared near Franklin and Hiawatha Avenues in Minneapolis. The encampment grew rapidly over the summer and by September 2018, 300 to 400 people, primarily Native, had taken up residence at the camp. Throughout the Fall the number of tents continued to grow, to over 200 tents.

       

      The Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) came together with City of Minneapolis leadership, representatives from the County and State and members of the Native community. Together they worked to identify immediate needs and redirect their resources in response. Community allies mobilized to direct outreach and support for the encampment.

       

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO was created when the Bush Foundation stepped forward to support NACDI, MUID and community allies in this work. The project will examine ways Native people can achieve their self-determined goals successfully, through broad community organizing and engagement process.

       

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO seeks to create long term strategies to address the issues which contributed to the creation of the encampment. We know that these strategies must be both innovative and community-based if they are to successfully address the historic, systemic challenges facing the Native community.

    • The WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Blog

      News and other information on the project

        WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Blog: Moving forward, slow and steady, Pt 2
      June 19, 2019
      This is Part Two of a two-part post sharing the work of a two-day WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/They Help Each (THEO) gathering which took place March 29 and 30, 2019. This work will shape what is to come as the THEO project moves forward to include members of the public and philanthropic sectors, and the...
      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Blog: Moving forward, slow and steady
      June 17, 2019
      This is Part One of a two-part post sharing the work of a two-day WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/They Help Each (THEO) gathering which took place March 29 and 30, 2019. This work will shape what is to come as the THEO project moves forward. Future work will include members of the public and philanthropic...
      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Blog: Rising towards challenge together
      May 24, 2019
      Summer is coming. Perhaps you've seen a tent or two popping up along the highway. You might have thought back to the Franklin Hiawatha encampment and wondered what happened to all those unsheltered relatives. You might even have wondered if something like that might happen again. With the...
      More Posts

    • Upcoming Events

      Upcoming gatherings hosted by WiiDooKooDaDiiWag/THEO

      (In chronological order)

      Community Gathering

      March 2, 2019, American Indian OIC

      8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

      A gathering of American Indian Community Organizations, Programs and Stakeholders to discuss and gather grassroots-based solutions to Native un-sheltered homelessness. Facilitated by Indigenous Collaboration.

      Navigation Center Community Gathering & Harvest

      February 1, 2019, Minneapolis Navigation Center

      A gathering with members of the Navigation Center community to discuss and gather grassroots-based solutions to Native unsheltered homelessness. Facilitated by Indigenous Collaboration.

      Inaugural Gathering & Feast

      January 11, 2019, Minneapolis American Indian Center

      A gathering of residents of the Navigation Center, City leaders and community residents. The feast kicked off the community-based gatherings to be hosted by WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO. The meal was generously prepared by the chefs of Eat for Equity and a team of volunteers, with food donated by  Buffalo Gal (butchered by Sioux Chef), A Dream of Wild Health, Night Owl Farm, PowWow Grounds, Salty Tart, Peace Coffee, Seward Co-op and Co-op Partners Warehouse.

    • Who We Are

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag is a project of the Native American Community Development Corporation, in partnership with Indigenous Collaborations.

      Robert Lilligren

      President and CEO, Native American Community Development Institute

      White Earth Band of Ojibwe

      Carrie Day Aspinwall

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Project Manager

      President/CEO, CDA Enterprises

      Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

      Lesley Kabotie

      President, Indigenous Collaboration​

      Crow Tribe of Montana

      Paul Kabotie

      Vice President, Indigenous Collaboration​

      Hopi Tribe of Arizona and Santa Clara Pueblo from New Mexico

      Camille Gage

      WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag Digital Communications

    • Project Partners

      The following are the primary partners for WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO

      The Bush Foundation

      Bush Foundation website

      The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. 

      Native American Community Development Institute

      NACDI website

      NACDI helps Native people create the future they envision. Their work is founded on the belief that all American Indian people have a place, purpose and a future strengthened by sustainable community development.

      Indigenous Collaborations

      Indigenous Collaborations website

      Indigenous Collaboration, Inc is a Native-owned / woman-owned corporation providing consensus-based consulting services, event facilitation, organizational tools and technologies that support engagement and collaboration. We specialize in efforts and initiatives within Native communities, Tribal governments, and with non-profits, government entities and enterprises doing work with Native populations, that contribute to the well-being of Indigenous peoples.

    • Contact Us

      We hope to hear from you! Get in touch with any questions you might have about WiiDooKoDaaDiiWag/THEO

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