Upcoming events are regularly posted on our Facebook feed and posted further below on this page.
December 1, 2022
The American Indian Community House in NYC observes World AIDS Day, December 1, 2022.
Dear AICH,
please join me in welcoming Marianne Zhetot Kwe Almero, a Native American Intern from Columbia University School of Social Work who will be working with AICH as part of her training. I have enclosed Marianne's bio and picture for your review.
Marianne also designed the lovely and important AICH poster in observance of World AIDS Day, which is observed around the globe today, December 1, 2022. Today we commemorate those lost and still affected by HIV amd AIDS in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you Marianne for making this poster in record time!
I also included a poster for the AICH Youth Council party for Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Columbia University from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at 531 West 113th st, NYC. News flash: the role of "Bad Indian Santa" will be played by our very own board member, George Stonefish, Delaware of the Thames First Nation! Look forward to the pictures! Also please see the Native American healing workshop scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2022 from noon to 3:00 pm at 39 Eldridge st, 4th Floor, NYC.
Welcome Marianne and looking forward,
Geboe (my new go by name)
Bio:
Marianne Zhetot Kwe Almero
Marianne is a first generation Potawatomi and Pilx student at the Columbia School of Social Work and will receive her MSW in 2024. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in Interdisciplinary Studies, where she researched art-therapy as treatment for PTSD. For the past 3 years, Marianne has worked in the mental health field as a strong means of support for teens struggling with addiction, self-harm, trauma, suicide attempts and ideation, eating disorders, mood dysregulation, psychosis, and other challenges surrounding mental health. Marianne has also spent years fighting against corruption in leadership and education that targets Black and Indigenous communities in her hometown of Anaheim, which is located on unceded Kizh, Tongva, and Acjachemen land. On her free days you can find Marianne participating in local social justice advocacy, practicing danza Azteca, supporting local drag artists, hand-beading, foraging, and spending time with her loved ones.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Check out our upcoming events!
Please visit www.tinyurl.com/aichchristmas to register for our Christmas party!
Nov 24, 2022
Dear AICH!
Happy Thanksgiving! Today AICH Board Members, Staff and Community members participated in the Prospect Park Track Club (www.pptc.org) annual 5 Mike race called the "Turkey Trot" in Prospect Park , Brooklyn. Manna-hatta Fund organizers first introduced AICH to PPTC and ecourgaged collaboration, which both enriches many different communities and increases the work AICH does to promote Native American visibility.
AICH was honored in the pre race program and we built a giant dreamcatcher to commemorate the day as one of Native American Resilence and Survival. Special thanks to PPTC planning council members Jennie, Will and Danielle who worked hard to highlight and include AICH in the 2500 member race and the group also raised $18k for AICH programs. These wonderful allies will be honored when we get our new space! (Details soon!)
We were joined by AICH Board Member Mary Brown who ran in the race with friends and AICH community member Ana Kills Right who also ran. AICH community member Frances Hopson graced the event by wearing her traditional Regalia and AICH Youth Council community members Leeandra and Logan Long Soldier joined us on stage. Cheyenne Canku Ota Wi brought her kids in support of AICH. AICH ED spoke about Native Resilence and offered a Land Acknowledgement as well as a hand drum honor song at the starting line. Also Ben spoke about the importance of running as a component of Native healing and spiritual traditions for many Native American communities. AICH Board Member Mary Brown helped create the handmade giant beautiful dream catcher, which will be featured in our new space.
Upcoming events include a healing workshop offered by First Nation speaker Brad Marsden on December 10 from noon to 3 pm at 39 Eldridge st, 4th Floor, see poster. Also the AICH Youth Council Holiday party at Columbia University, please contact Deputy Director Patricia Tarrant for more details at ptarrant@aich.org.
Looking forward,
Ben Geboe
Nov 22, 2022
Dear AICH,
Happy Thanksgiving! The Board and Staff wish Community Members and allies a wonderful time with family and friends.
Deputy Director Patricia Tarrant designed a beautiful holiday poster to honor Indigenous Resilience and to thank people for donating to AICH. Copies are available for download, to get one please email bgeboe@aich.org after a donation of your choice has been made on the AICH website.
AICH is being honored by the Prospect Park Track Club on Thanksgiving Day 5 Mile race! They raised $18K so far for AICH and have thoughtfully worked in collaboration to include and highlight AICH. We are honored and grateful for the support.
All are welcome to join the kick off ceremony in the early morning of Thanksgiving Day, hosted by ED Ben Geboe. Please see agenda below can show up in Regalia, Ribbon Skirts and Shirts but remember to dress warmly!
6:00 am Ben arrives at LeFrak Center at Lakeside: 71 East Dr, Prospect Park
6:30 am Dreamcatcher Installation
7:45 am Welcome and Pre-race Instructions
7:50 am City Officials
8 - 8:15
AICH Intro by Jennie
Land Acknowledgement by Ben
The American Indian Community House, Inc. honors Native American community members who have for a millennia served as stewards of the land. We give thanks to the Mohawk, Lenape, Shinnecock and many other Native American communities past and present who continue to uphold traditions, languages and Native American identity in relationship to the bounty of the
natural world. We pray for protection of Mother Earth and all things connected.
Drumming and burning of sage
8:15 Wave 1 of Race begins
Nov 19, 2022
Dear AICH,
Staff, community members and volunteers continue have been very busy during Native American Heritage Month.
Nicholson Billey Hosts Members of the NYU Native American Indigenous Student Group.
Nic shares "As part of my artist in residence with the American Indian Community House’s (AICH) Native Artists Residency 2022, I was very honored to host Saira Coye-Huhn, Trystin Lopes, and Jaiden Sanchez of the NYU Native American Indigenous Student Group at the AICH Governors Island house on November 12, 2022. Through a Native / Indigenous communal circle, we explored the relational potential for Indigiqueer spaces in NYC. Thank you Saira, Trystin, and Jaiden for your presence and brilliance! Thank you AICH for making this possible!" See picture.
AICH's ED Ben Geboe and Deputy Director Patricia Tarrant participated in the monthly membership meeting of the Metro NY Physicians for a National HealthProgram, which focused on Native American Heritage Month and social, health disparities titled “Indigenous Peoples’ Health: Inequities, Innovations & Lessons” Also described how "Last night, Physicians for a National Health Program-NY Metro held our November forum on Indigenous peoples’ health, exploring the legacy of environmental and systemic racism and health inequities impacting Native Americans and discussing some of the successes of care models under tribal and community management. We also discussed the ways in which exploitation of natural resources particularly harms Indigenous communities, some of the essential ongoing Indigenous-led environmental and health justice work being done, and how that work is inextricably connected to health outcomes for all.
"As we seek to continually learn and commit ourselves to the work of dismantling practices and systems of oppression alongside our allies it is essential that we follow the leadership of marginalized communities and be intentional and inclusive in our organizing. An unstoppable movement for health equity and justice is made by centering the needs of the most vulnerable and impacted communities."
In attendance:
Mark Trahant (keynote) is editor-at-large for Indian Country Today. Trahant leads the Indigenous Economics Project, a comprehensive look at Indigenous economics, including the economic impact of climate change. Trahant was hired to revive ICT after it went out of business in 2017. The success has been phenomenal. The digital site now reaches 700,000 people a month and the broadcast is carried on two dozen public television stations. Trahant is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has held endowed chairs at the University of North Dakota and University of Alaska Anchorage. He is a citizen of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
Panelists:
Nov 2022 Panelist Ben Geboe PhD, LMSW, Tiospaye Wakandkiduta (Redlightning Family Unit) is the Executive Director of the American Indian Community House, Inc., founded in 1969, and serving the needs of Native Americans residing in New York City.
Sophia Marjanovic, PhD is the Bilingual Senior Organizer at the Center for Science and Democracy of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Marjanovic received a Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from the George Washington University in order to work on accountability and healing for her Fort Peck Oceti Sakowin and Assiniboine community, which has suffered from the toxins of oil and natural gas extraction. Dr. Marjanovic, through her father, is also of the Iipay tribe of the Kumeyaay nation.
David Goldberg, MD is a primary care provider for the Indian Health Service on the Navajo Nation in Chinle, Arizona. Dr. Goldberg has been a member of Physicians for a National Health Program for over 10 years.
To learn more: www.pnhpnymetro.org/
Friday, Nov 18, 2022 AICH, Brooklyn College, Boro of Manhattan Community College hosted a day long curriculum review to help create a framework for Native American Studies Minor. The day was powerful and also had Indigenous experts Professor Leslie Sabiston of McGill University in Montréal (Metis)and Professor Vicky Baldo (Anishnabe) of Bishops University in Sherbrooke, Québec. AICH elder and Native American Veteran Joe Cross opened the program. Also in attendance were several Native American students from Columbia University, non Native CUNY students from schools of journalism and Brooklyn Law Students working to enact a Native American law Center. Special thanks to AICH community member and consultant Rick Chavolla of the Kuuyymee Nation who started liaison with Brooklyn College several years ago. Also thank you professors Jocelyn Willis, Elizabeth Cooper and Joseph Entin and Dean Diana Pan of Brooklyn College. Also Professor Francisco Delgado of BMCC for all of ypue hard work. Several other cuny staff and faculty were also present as well as several AICH community members. See pictures.
Thank you AICH Deputy Director Patricia Tarrant for taking the lead of the highly attended online session for Global Citizen staff. Patricia spike eloquently about her work at AICH and challenges facing Native American community members today, especially in urban settings. www.globalcitizen.org/
Patricia was also featured in TV ABC 7 news story and interview highlighting the work AICH does, and featured our house on Governors Island!
Link:
abc7ny.com/native-american-tribes-nyc-indian-community-house/12464094/
Today Patricia and her daughter supported a Native American program on Staten Island.
Lastly see pictures of AICH House on Governors Island which is closed after another successful season. Thank you AICH Board, Staff, Community members and allies who made this summer productive and a total blast!
