MHP Connect

New Indian Bowl to share and sustain Ojibwe artistry and culture

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Created: Wednesday, 07 September 2016 12:35

Written by Laura Proescholdt

For more than 50 years, people from across the Midwest visited what became known as the “Indian Bowl” to share in the culture and traditions of the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe. On warm summer evenings, they gathered in the colosseum-like seats to marvel at the powwow dancers’ intricate footwork, watch their swirling dresses, and feel the beat of the drums.

But after half a century of Wisconsin winters, the concrete seating of the Indian Bowl was crumbling, and the building was falling into disrepair. When a study showed only a $300,000 difference between renovating the facility and building a new one, the Lac du Flambeau community saw an opportunity to bolster its mission to share and sustain the Ojibwe culture. In September 2014, crews demolished the Indian Bowl to make way for the Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl Living Arts and Culture Center. “Waaswaaganing” means “Lake of Flames” in Ojibwe, describing the look of a lake as it is spearfished by torchlight.

On August 4, 2016, the Lac du Flambeau community finally broke ground at the site of the new Indian Bowl. Approximately 60 people attended, including community members, architects, donors, students from the Abinoojiiyag Youth Center, and a Korean cultural exchange group visiting from New York. The ceremony included a prayer, speeches by Indian Bowl friends and supporters, and a celebratory picnic at the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino.

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No special session: The implications for affordable housing

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Created: Wednesday, 31 August 2016 11:01

Written by Jeremy Schroeder

I was still somewhat bleary eyed when I wrote about the frantic, late-night close of the Minnesota legislative session back in May. Little did I know the back-and-forth behind closed doors would keep us holding our breath for another three months. Sadly, after more political smoke about a special session, the two sides weren’t able to strike a deal — snuffing a bonding bill that could have supported affordable housing development across the state.

So what happened? When the impasse over light rail killed the bonding bill in the final moments of the session, both Republicans and Democrats asked the Governor to call a special session to pass the critical measure that, among many other aspects, included $45 million for affordable housing. The Governor heeded the call — but with a long list of must-have that he’d need to see in the bonding bill to bring legislators back to St. Paul. Top of his list? Funding for the Southwest light rail.

As the summer heat sizzled, so did media speculation about the prospect of a special session. But, despite (or perhaps because of the) high political temperatures heading into the election year, the major barrier refused to thaw: Republicans said they wouldn’t agree to a deal with light rail funding in the bill and Democrats said they wouldn’t agree to a deal without it. To add to the intrigue, some speculated a deal rested on helping Speaker Daudt’s primary race.

Then something seemingly amazing happened. The Governor brought together the combination of bacon, lettuce and tomato to persuade Speaker Daudt. As the weeks passed, the Governor compromised on many of his demands and still negotiations were stalled. It wasn’t until he had the Speaker over for sandwiches in late August that a deal reportedly was brokered. Still no agreement on funding for light rail, but it seemed the special session was moving forward.

Then we waited.

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MN Housing board update: Agency discusses state planning, manufactured housing and model supportive housing development

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Created: Monday, 29 August 2016 14:57

Written by Carolyn Szczepanski

At its August meeting, the board of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency discussed a range of topics, including the state's 2017 Affordable Housing Plan, the model collaboration that led to the grand opening of a supportive housing development in Grand Rapids and the increasing threat to manufactured housing parks, which provide significant affordable housing supply. 

No special session

In her opening remarks, Minnesota Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal expressed her disappointment that the Minnesota legislature will not hold a special session. This means that the resources available for the upcoming funding round will be less than originally expected, although there will be a small amount of bonding resources available as several previously awarded projects required fewer resources than were originally awarded.

Model collaboration in Grand Rapids

In her report on recently attended groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings, Tingerthal highlighted the community process associated with the Beacon Hill project in Grand Rapids (pictured above). She credited the Housing Institute, created and facilitated by MHP and GMHF, with organizing and facilitating a cross-disciplinary community leadership process. This led to a multi-faceted development addressing a number of community interests. Family housing was created side-by-side with supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and with special needs, all sharing services through a new community center. Tingerthal said that the process and development spurred a sense of community pride, and fostered what the participants believe will be an enduring partnership.

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Urban housing project aims to reestablish Native identity among American Indian youth

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Created: Thursday, 18 August 2016 14:45

Written by Carolyn Szczepanski

“I couldn’t breathe,” Deb Foster recalls.

It was June 2016 and the Executive Director of the Ain Dah Yung Center (ADYC) was on a conference call with half-a-dozen partners. For months, they had been working urgently to secure a site for an innovative urban American Indian youth permanent supportive housing project — a first-of-its-kind in the state, maybe even the nation. Just days before a critical funding application was due, they had found the perfect spot.

Or so they thought.

With 48 hours to go, the owners of the properties that would make way for the new development decided they didn’t want to sell. Foster remembers that moment vividly, because the breath-taking disappointment was immediately met with undaunted optimism from Chris Wilson, Director of Real Estate Development for Project for Pride in Living (PPL).

“You know what,” he said, "it’s only halftime as far as I’m concerned. We’ll make this happen.”

That level of commitment and determination has been the hallmark of ADYC’s vision to create an urban supportive housing project specifically designed to address the distinctive needs of American Indian young people aged 18 to 24.

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