The American Indian Community Housing Organization started more than 25 years ago providing safe housing for women and youth in Duluth, Minnesota. It has since added a community center, gardens, an art gallery and an Indigenous First gift shop, environmentally sustainable initiatives, and more. In 2018, White Earth Investment Initiative (WEII) and its affiliate provided $644,000 in financing to acquire property for the group’s planned expansions. Their philosophy is that every American Indian person deserves to live in a non-violent and non-threatening environment and has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
The reward of offering flexible financing to Native businesses is watching them grow. — Audra Tonihka, Vice President of Lending, White Earth Investment Initiative
During the pandemic, used one of its sites to distribute much needed emergency food, household supplies, personal protective equipment and had someone on staff to help community members with RentHelp applications. To find out more about this amazing urban Indigenous organization, go to: www.aicho.org.
