Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center at AICHO
Duluth, MN 55802 United States 218-722-7225
Formerly known as Trepanier Hall, the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center is an auditorium in the American Indian Community Housing Organization’s Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin building.
AICHO purchased the former Duluth YWCA building in June 2008 to develop Gimaaji, converting the structure into 29 units of permanent supportive housing for families and creating Duluth’s first urban Indian center.
Jan 2022
“As Long as the Rivers Shall Run” Opening Exhibition
AICHO Galleries returns to in-person events with the opening exhibition for "As Long as the Rivers Shall Run," featuring new works by papercut artist Ellen Sandbeck of Duluth. Registration is required to attend the reception. This event is free, but there is a suggested donation of $10 at the door. “As Long as the Rivers Shall Run” is an exploration of major rivers. The series includes endangered, recently extinct and invasive species found in each of the featured rivers. The…
Find out more »Feb 2022
“As Long as the Rivers Shall Run” Papercut Workshop
AICHO Galleries returns to in-person events featuring papercut artist Ellen Sandbeck of Duluth. “As Long as the Rivers Shall Run” is an exploration of major rivers. As part of this exhibit, people are invited to a papercut workshop on Feb. 3.
Find out more »Mar 2022
Carl Gawboy: New Paintings, Old Stories (Postponed)
This event has been rescheduled for March 11.
Find out more »Carl Gawboy: New Paintings, Old Stories
The American Indian Community Housing Organization hosts a new exhibition of paintings by Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe citizen and Finnish American painter Carl Gawboy. It includes a collection of more than 30 watercolor, acrylics and ink washes that feature Anishinaabe and Finnish cultural life, landscapes and spiritual teachings. Also on display are Gawboy’s artist awards, his books and visual accolades for work he has created. The reception was rescheduled for March 11 in response to winter weather on the…
Find out more »Apr 2022
AICHO Vaccine Clinic
AICHO has partnered with the St. Louis County Public Health Division to present this clinic to the public. Participants will be rewarded with a $50 Visa gift card (while supplies last). This clinic includes Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna options. First and second doses and boosters are available for the public for free. Vaccines for kids between 5 to 11 years old are available, as well. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 218-722-7225.
Find out more »Jun 2022
Meet and Greet with Author Angeline Boulley
The Duluth Library Foundation invites local teens and young adults for a free meet and greet with Angeline Boulley, author of Firekeeper's Daughter. Guests are encouraged to bring a copy of the book it they have one. Light refreshments will be available. Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a former director of the Office of Indian Education at…
Find out more »Indigenous: The Art of Shaun Chosa
Shaun Chosa, a Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribal citizen and painter/graphic design artist, will show more than 30 large-scale paintings during this opening reception. The works will remain on display until Sept. 16. with gallery viewing hours on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. There is a suggested $10 donation at the door. Chosa's new works are Indigenous portraits with pop-culture artistic influences. Chosa had his first art gallery showing in Ely in 2000 and sold half of his…
Find out more »AICHO’s Indigenous Food and Art Market Opening Day
The American Indian Community Housing Organization is hosting 21 local food and art vendors. Artist Sam Zimmerman will also be on hand for a book signing, and there will be a drum group honor song. Note the location of the event is the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center and the adjacent foyer and hallway. The market was originally to be held in the parking lot at One Roof Community Housing, but has been moved indoors due to a strong possibility…
Find out more »Jul 2022
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Friday, repeating until Sep 16, 2022
Indigenous Art by Shaun Chosa
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Friday, repeating until Sep 16, 2022
AICHO Galleries presents “Indigenous,” artwork by Shaun Chosa, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa citizen and painter, who uses historical photographs and sepia tone images and transforms them into color paintings with pop cultural themes and iconography. The exhibit can be viewed on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. until Sept. 16. Chosa’s work embraces the diversity of Indigenous experiences: the pride of culture and tradition, the celebration of victories and blessings, and the painful memories and realities lived by Indigenous…
Find out more »Sep 2022
AICHO’s Group Visual Art Exhibition Reception
AICHO Galleries presents its fourth and final art exhibition of 2022, featuring visual artwork from 26 local and regional artists along with written works by 13 local and regional Indigenous writers. Jazz music will be performed during the reception by Briand Morrison. The theme “Those that have gone before us and all those yet unborn” came from White Earth Ojibwe artist Kathleen Westcott. The visual artwork consists of painting, photography, beadwork, textiles and mixed media. Some works will be available…
Find out more »Nov 2022
Biboon Bimaadizimin Holiday Market 2022
The American Indian Community Housing Organization and Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop host the annual Winter Good Life Holiday Market. The event features dozens of local and regional vendors with items like locally grown and produced Indigenous foods and bottled beverages like Kombucha, art prints, original artwork, textile goods, American Indian beadwork and more. The Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop will also be open with new products including limited edition gift baskets.
Find out more »Mináǧi Kiŋ Dowáŋ: A Zitkála-Šá Opera
Mináǧi Kiŋ Dowáŋ: A Zitkála-Šá Opera (“My Spirit Sings” in Dakota) is an original film written, composed and sung by an all-Indigenous team. It recently marked its Mni Sota Makoce debut at Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center in St. Paul and now travels north. The work originated in conversations between Kelly M. Turpin, executive director/producer of An Opera Theatre, and director/artistic producer Sequoia Hauck (Anishinaabe, Hupa). Their shared interest in the Indigenous writer, musician, educator and political activist Zitkála-Šá, a…
Find out more »Why Treaties Matter
The American Indian Community Housing Organization has partnered with the Center for Indigenous Health and the Indian Affairs Council to bring the Why Treaties Matter exhibit to Duluth. AICHO is co-hosting this one-night event highlighting the history and importance of treaties. Dinner will be provided. Dr. Melissa Walls will speak about indigenous health. Registration is encouraged but not required. Register by emailing caihduluth @ jhu.edu.
Find out more »A Conversation: Decolonizing Our Relationship With the Land
Waankam: People for the Estuary is a group of Twin Ports area citizens raising awareness about how our community can care for and protect the St. Louis River Estuary and they are asking the public to join a conversation about decolonizing our relationship with the land. Decolonizing our relationship with the land means relating to nature as an entity with rights that we humans are responsible for honoring. Learn from Ricky DeFoe, an Anishinaabe Elder and teacher who will discuss…
Find out more »Dec 2022
Brave Art Exhibition 2023: Call for Art Deadline
The annual Brave Art Exhibition showcases youth art from 5th graders to artists up to age 24 from Duluth and surrounding communities and reservations. Submitted 2-D and 3-D art will need to share what being brave means to the artist within this year's theme of "healing through community." Submission guidelines: Pieces need to be 24 x 24 or smaller. Art cannot be discriminatory, racist or violent. Art applications are due by Dec. 27. Artists under 18 years of age need…
Find out more »Jan 2023
What Bravery Means Art Reception
AICHO Galleries hosts Brave Art Youth Exhibition, showcasing artwork from 19 youths. This art reception is part of a series of events starting on Jan. 9 organized by the Duluth Human Trafficking Committee in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month. There will be 22 artworks on display, and some will be for sale. Youth artists include Tatyana Sanders, Anastasia Keeler, Nimise Martin, Nishiime Martin, Nevaeh Hardy, Sylva Hanson, Jozalynn Thompson, Preston Conway, Patience Thompson, Elijah Kot, Aiyanna Hellman, Victoria Marro,…
Find out more »Feb 2023
Opening Artist Reception for Aanjitoon: Anishinaabe Art Through a Contemporary Lens
AICHO Galleries is hosting an artist opening reception featuring the photography of Nedahness Greene, a Leech Lake Band Ojibwe tribal member, and the digital artwork of Caitlin Newago, a Bad River Ojibwe tribal member. “Aanjitoon: Anishinaabe Art Through a Contemporary Lens” showcases a cultural reclamation and connection to Anishinaabe seasonal life and traditions and contemporary Ojibwe florals. Nedahness Rose Greene a Leech Lake photographic artisan who creates her work by highlighting the beauty and symmetry in people, places and things…
Find out more »Apr 2023
Twin Ports Festival of History 2023: Anishinaabeg Treaty Tales
Learn about the treaties that have affected the Duluth area and sample Indigenous foods during the Duluth Festival of History event "Anishinaabeg Treaty Tales with the 1854 Treaty Authority and AICHO." The second annual Twin Ports Festival of History runs March 30 to April 4 at multiple venues in Duluth and Superior and features lectures, tours and more. The event aims to provide those with an interest in history an opportunity to listen and discuss topics with authors and historians…
Find out more »May 2023
Artist Reception for Birchbark & Cattails: An Homage to Land that Creates Art
AICHO Galleries is honored to bring together acrylic paintings and textile arts by contemporary artist Kent Estey, a White Earth of Ojibwe tribal member, and textile artist Ramona Morrow, a Lac Courte Oreilles tribal member and Yankton Sioux descendant in the group art exhibition. This art exhibition celebrates the multiplicity of gifts nature gives including inspirations and mediums for art through generations.
Find out more »Nov 2023
Mazinibii’igewininiwag: Two Woodland Artists Opening Reception
AICHO Galleries has brought together Gordon Coons (Lac Courte Oreilles) and Steven StandingCloud (Red Lake) for the group art exhibition Mazinibii’igewininiwag: Two Woodland Artists. The exhibition remains on display through Dec. 29. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Explore the power of connection to nature, culture, spirituality and Ojibwe realities (past and present) through Coons and StandingCloud’s strikingly bold and meaningful Anishinaabeg Woodland symbolic imagery. Gordon Coons is an enrolled member of the Lac…
Find out more »Dec 2023
Indigenous Writer Series: Thomas Peacock and Betsy Albert-Peacock
AICHO is co-hosting its first in-person Indigenous Writer Series session, featuring writers and publishers Thomas Peacock and Elizabeth (Betsy) Albert-Peacock. Both writers will talk about their books, read excerpts and will participate in a Q and A and book signing. Peacock and Albert-Peacock are co-founders of Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing. Peacock is a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabe and Albert-Peacock is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabe. This…
Find out more »Jan 2024
Zaagi’idiwin Tour 2024
AICHO hosts its first love-themed market, the Zaagi’idiwin Tour ahead of Valentine's Day. Shoppers can take loved ones on a stroll through the market where there will be art, merchandise, and food products on sale as well as live music. The pop-up market is intended to make Valentine's Day gift shopping less stressful and more meaningful for community members. Shoppers can connect with and support Indigenous and BIPOC entrepreneurs while the entrepreneurs have an opportunity to expand their businesses. Live…
Find out more »Feb 2024
Indigenous Writer Series: Tashia Hart and Staci Drouillard
AICHO’s next event of the Indigenous Writer Series features authors Tashia Hart and Staci L. Drouillard, who both write about Indigenous women’s experiences while exploring themes of love, relationships and traditional foods and medicines. In their session, Hart and Drouillard will each talk about their books, read an excerpt, participate in a Q&A segment and sign books.
Find out more »Aadizookaan: Ojibwe Winter Storytelling Event (Canceled)
This event has been canceled due to a lack of snow. AICHO hosts their annual Aadizookaan Winter Storytelling event. The event features traditional Ojibwe creation stories told by Michael (Migizi) Sullivan, Ph.D. and Hannah (Niigaanibinesiik) Orie. Stories of Weneboozhoo, a historical and spiritual icon of the Ojibwe and Anishinaabeg, will be told in Ojibwe and translated into English. While this is a public event, AICHO and the storytellers have requested attendees to refrain from recording the event due to the…
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