AIFC: Pipe Ceremony
2025-07-13 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Elders Lodge, 1500 Magnolia Ave E, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Gitchiayaayag, Richard Wright (Bear Clan, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), will be the spiritual advisor for the pipe ceremony.
Pipe carriers are welcome to bring their pipes.
We’ll have a potluck-style meal.
Please bring a dish to share if you can.
For more information, contact Laura Trujillo at Laura.Trujillo@aifcmn.org or (651) 505-6815.

AIFC: Ombi'ayaa Anishinaabe-Ininiiwug (Rise Up Original Men) - Men's Smudge and Support Group
2025-07-14 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-07-28 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-11 17:30 - 20:30 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States
Join American Indian Family Center’s Father Care Specialist, Ben Weaver (Algonquin), for an in-person Men’s Smudge and Support Group.
It will be a potluck, so please bring a dish to share if you can!
Don’t miss this chance to gather with other American Indian men to explore your identity, participate in your culture, and support each other.
Questions? Contact Ben at Ben.Weaver@aifcmn.org or (651) 504-2264.

AIFC: Wakanyeja Kin Wakan Pi (Our Children Are Sacred) - Women & Mother's Group
2025-07-15 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-22 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-29 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-05 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-12 11:00 - 13:00 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States
Join Wakanyeja Kin Wakan Pi (Our Children are Sacred) Women & Mother’s Group to spend time with other mothers and learn about parenting in a way that honors cultural traditions and beliefs.
We can also connect you with resources and baby supplies such as bottles, diapers, car seats, and Pack ‘n Plays.
Other activities include:

Talking circles for moms
Parenting groups
Case management
Annual baby shower

Contact AIFC’s Mother & Women’s Outreach Specialist, Danielle Hernandez, at (651) 560-9798 or Danielle.Hernandez@aifcmn.org for more information.

[Virtual Event] AIFC: Khunsi Onikan - Well-Anon (Native American Al-Anon) Meeting
2025-07-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-12 19:00 - 20:00
Open to anyone wanting to learn to have healthy boundaries and healthy relationships with the other addicts/alcoholics in their lives.
Join us every Tuesday at 7 PM CST for help and hope.
Suppose you have a loved one dealing with addiction. In that case, our Khunsi Onikan Program sponsors these weekly Native American culturally-based, one-hour meetings to help you establish healthy boundaries and relationships.
Join the meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89255163167?pwd=[REDACTED]

AIFC: Traditional Crafting Group
2025-07-17 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-24 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-31 10:00 - 14:00 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States
Come on over to AIFC on Thursdays from 10AM – 2PM for our Traditional Crafting Group!
Feel free to bring crafts you’re already working on, or check out our supplies to start a craft.
This group is facilitated by AIFC’s Treatment Coordinator, experienced crafter, and beader, Sasina Samreth (White Earth Nation).

[Virtual Event] AIFC: Khunsi Onikan - Wellbriety/Medicine Wheel 12 Steps Meeting
2025-07-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-31 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-07 19:00 - 20:00
Open to anyone wanting to work on recovery from any addiction.
Every Thursday at 7 pm CST, AIFC’s Khunsi Onikan program will sponsor a culturally based recovery support Wellbriety/Medicine Wheel 12-step meeting for the community; anyone wanting to work on recovery from any addictions is welcome to attend.
No need to register in advance.
Click here to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89255163167?pwd=[REDACTED]

AIFC: Ombi'ayaa Anishinaabe-Ininiiwug (Rise Up Original Men) - Men's Smudge and Support Group
2025-07-21 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-04 17:30 - 20:30 | Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, 788 East 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States

AIFC: Waaban Ogimaawag (Tomorrow's Leaders)
2025-08-01 13:00 - 15:30 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States
Join Waaban Ogimaawag (Tomorrow’s Leaders), AIFC’s Youth Services, this summer to empower and engage our Youth in becoming leaders!

Some of the activities include:
+ Learn to resolve conflicts
+ Role play
+ Learn Life Skills
+ Fundraise
+ Learn why we carry the Seven Grandfather Teachings within us

Let’s have fun!

American Indian Family Center, 579 Wells Street, Saint Paul, MN 55121

Transportation will be provided once registration has been completed.

Please register/RSVP to Pam Gokey, AIFC’s Youth Services Manager, at (651) 504-2944 or Pam.Gokey@aifcmn.org.

Ages: 11-17

Friday, July 11, 1:00-3:30pm
Friday, July 18, 1:00-3:30pm
Friday, August 1, 1:00-3:30pm
Friday, August 15, 1:00-3:30pm
Friday, August 29, 1:00-3:30pm

AIFC: Ombi'ayaa Anishinaabe-Ininiiwug (Rise Up Original Men) - Circle of Security Parenting Class
2025-08-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-12 13:00 - 15:00 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States

AIFC: Traditional Cedar Healing Ceremony
2025-08-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Cherokee Regional Park, 700 Cherokee Heights Blvd., Saint Paul, MN, 55107, United States
The American Indian Family Center’s (AIFC) Elders Advisory Council (EAC) invites you to a Traditional Cedar Healing Ceremony on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, from 5PM to 8PM at the Cherokee Regional Park, located at 700 Cherokee Heights Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55107, or 792 Chippewa Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55107, which is a home address across from the park just in case you have trouble finding the park via GPS.

The spiritual leader will be Pebaamibines (Nigigoonsiminikaaning, Fort Frances, Ontario, CAN).

Food will be served, while supplies last, and you are welcome to bring a dish to share.

Ladies are encouraged to wear skirts, if possible.

We hope to see you there!

AIFC: Traditional Crafting Group
2025-08-07 11:30 - 15:00 | American Indian Family Center (AIFC) – East, 579 Wells St, Saint Paul, MN, 55130, United States
Come on over to AIFC on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 11:30am – 3pm for our Traditional Crafting Group!
Feel free to bring crafts you’re already working on, or browse our supplies to start a new one.
AIFC Treatment Coordinator facilitates this group, experienced crafter and beader, Sasina Samreth (White Earth Nation), and Laura Dorn (Red Lake Nation), AIFC Policy and Research Analyst.

AIFC: Waaban Ogimaawag (Tomorrow's Leaders) - Full Moon Ceremony
2025-08-07 19:00 | Belwin Conservancy Savanna Center, 795 Indian Trail South, Afton, MN, 55001, United States
🌕 AIFC Waaban Ogimaawag (Tomorrow’s Leaders) invites you to a Full Moon Ceremony on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 7:00PM.

Who: Relatives who receive their menstrual (moon) cycles or have reached menopause; the ceremony includes Two-Spirit and trans relatives!

Where: Belwin Conservancy Savanna Center, 795 Indian Trail S, Afton, MN 55001

Please bring a long skirt, a copper cup, a small bowl, a spoon (extras will be provided as supplies last), a hair bundle*, a watecha bowl (Tupperware, etc.) to take home leftovers, and a dish to share if you can.

*Hair Bundle (optional): Hair bundles are not required to participate but may be offered during the ceremony if desired. To make your own, start collecting loose strands from your brush, shower, or clothes!

We are honored to have you join us during this special time as we hold a ceremony for Grandmother Moon!

For more information, contact Pam Gokey at Pam.Gokey@aifcmn.org or (651) 504-2944.

🎨: Jessica Gokey (@j_leigh_gokey)

AIFC: Women's Sweat
2025-08-08 17:00 | Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail South, Afton, MN, 55001, United States
Artwork: “The Lodge” by Sharifah

Please plan to arrive by 5 PM so we can enter the lodge at 6 PM.
A light meal will also be shared afterward. You are welcome to bring food to share, but it isn’t required.
Facilitated by Sharyl Whitehawk every first Friday of the month; please call to verify.

What to bring and wear: a loose-fitting dress, shorts, or skirt for inside the lodge, a loose-fitting shirt, a change of clothes for after, a towel, drinking water, and a dish to share after sweat (optional). A modest T-shirt or top is also acceptable when wearing a long skirt or shorts.
AIFC’s Women’s Sweats are regularly scheduled. If you are interested in attending one or have questions, please get in touch with Sharyl Whitehawk at (651) 505-6838, (719) 322-4447, or Sharyl.Whitehawk@aifcmn.org.
Miigwech!
Directions to the sweat lodge: Turn left into the drive, and then open the gate (it’s not locked but looks like it is) and drive through, staying to the right at 2 forks until you go up a small hill where the sweat lodge and a parking area are.
Sweat Lodge teachings: A sweat lodge is a tool for healing everything that a person wants healing for. It begins with a fire pit where your intentions for the sweat are given with tobacco. The fire pit represents the Creator, whereas the fire has the power of transformation. So, it holds the stones, heating them and getting them ready for healing work. The path to the lodge is a lifetime of unresolved issues that you carry with you. As you enter the Eastern doorway, you announce yourself by your Spirit Name and clan. If you do not have them, just use your English name. You sit where the person pouring assigns you.
In most cases, the women come in first, and then the men. The stones are brought in by a firekeeper who brings in the Grandfathers and Grandmothers (stones) with the person who is pouring’s guidance. The lodge is where people are reconnected to their first mother, the Earth. The sweat lodge and the fire pit in the lodge are dome-shaped, represent the womb, and have the power of rebirth. The stones, once brought in, become Grandmothers and Grandfathers who heard the intentions and will come in to help. The doorway is closed, and the four directions are honored and asked to assist. It can be hot when water is added to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. Steam is the conductor of transformation. The steam pulls out the trapped issues or problems that the person is hanging onto and releases them so healing can happen. The songs, prayers, and medicines shared in the lodge help people let go of their resistance.
The time in the sweat lodge varies, as well as the number of stones used. It can be as short as an hour or up to 2 hours long. It can have 7 to 42 stones. It can be done at any time of the day. A sweat lodge is a healing tool that has been passed down for generations and is changing with the times.
