Building, supporting, and cultivating opportunities for Indigenous peoples and communities of color through cultural arts and activism.
 
 

 

Our Mission:

Arts & Activism

Dedicated to building, supporting, and cultivating opportunities for Indigenous peoples and communities of color through cultural arts and activism.

 
 
 
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Who We Are

Indigenous Roots strives to provide space and programming that promote and practice holistic well being through indigenous arts, culture, and tradition.

Learn More About Our Roots

 

In May of 2017, the Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center opened as an incubator space for artists and organizations dedicated to building, supporting and cultivating opportunities for Indigenous peoples and communities of color. 

Meet Our Partners

 
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Our Work

Community driven programs that promote and practice holistic well being through indigenous arts, traditions, and culture.

 
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Zipaktli

Programming focused on building youth leadership and development skills through academic and community opportunities and partnerships. 

 

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Malinalli

Workshops focused on wellness by exploring traditional ancestral healing from womb wellness to medicinal plant knowledge.

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Koatl

Workshops focused on decolonized learning, ancestral knowledge, Tonalpohualli, Huehuetlahtolli, 20 Ancestral Advices, philosophy, and history.

 

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Kiahuitl

Community gatherings focused on promoting, informing, and catalyzing social change through traditional arts, artist residencies, and community events.

 
 
 
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2017 Impact

What a 2017 year! Indigenous Roots is forever grateful to each of you and continues to thrive because of your support. Together, we made a historical impact on the East Side/Saint Paul community by collectively coming together and sharing our passion for arts and culture with community from all four directions. 

Check out what we all accomplished together in 2017!

 

150+

visual & performance Artists

This year we worked with over 150 visual and performance artists to bring community together, engage in conversation, and see one another.

 

8

Gallery Exhibits

From our grand opening exhibit, showcasing the paintings of Emmanuel Sierra in May, our youth photography works, to our final show, Art of Resistance: Honor the Earth, we are so proud of the work and passion that went into each of our 2017 exhibits.

     
     

    45+

    Community Arts & Culture Events

    A year with high political tensions, our community gatherings and dialogues focused on racial equity, historical trauma, cultural appropriation, decolonization, building community power, environmental justice, immigration rights, ancestral healing, youth work and wealth for communities of color.

     
     

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    DECEMBER 2017

    This is truly a wonderful place, space, and community. I’m forever thankful y’all exist and my familia will do everything and anything to help you thrive. Thank you for all you do for the youth and artists of all kinds in our community.

    Daniela Bell / On the Indigenous Roots Cultural Center

     

     
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    @indigeroots

    Stop by this evening for an amazing pop up exhibit about #colorism hosted by the KAYSC Youth Research Team of the @sciencemuseummn
    In collaboration with local Twin Cities artists, the Youth Research Team (YRT) of the Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center (KAYSC), will be debuting their artwork showcasing the accumulation of their work researching different aspects of colorism. Each art piece depicts a different aspect of colorism and how it shows up in our communities. There will be performances, an exhibition of art pieces, and refreshments. Featured artists: Ashembaga (Ashe) Jaafaru Awa Mally Bobby Rogers Diana Nguyen Jacob Ladda Youth Research Team: Alexis Griffin, Katrina Pettis, Michela Kamara, Mohamed Dirie, Yoo-Jin Hwang, Zhaeveon Mottley Crew Manager: Adja Gildersleve Crew Coordinator: Shiranthi Goonathilaka Background: The Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center of the Science Museum of MN's Youth Research Team (YRT) has been going through a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) process to learn, research, and take action around the topic of Colorism. The crew has been using various methods to collect information (data) on the different aspects of colorism. Each youth was assigned to a topic/aspect-- ie. Colorism in music, film marketing, family dynamics, dance, and across different racial identities. They have used the data to create a piece of art that will be showcased in the exhibition along with other local artists.
    Gratitude to #atsukookatsuka for a wonderfully hilarious evening of clapbacks, stories and jokes. Special shout out to #FAWK for making this happen and congrats on a successful kick off of the Clapback Cabaret Series #AsianPride
    Infinite gratitude to the artists and community members that organize and gather on the daily. #Dance #Dialogue #7thStreetCulturalCorridor #Movement
    Excited to have @liladowns back in MN for a concert @the_ordway next week. Get your tickets asap! #liladowns #MnMxPride
    @denmada of @springboardarts showing @cypherside bgirl Amelia and her fam how her headshots turned out. #eastside #popupresource #7thStreetCulturalCorridor
    Tomorrow! Free! The Pop-up Resource Center offers individual artists and small organizations access to services and equipment such as a scanner and camera, in an informal, self-directed environment. Dennis Madamba and Andy Sturdevant from Springboard for the Arts will be onsite at Indigenous Roots from 1-7pm on Wednesday, February 28 to work with artists in the Pop-Up Resource Center, free of charge. Artists, performers and creatives working in all disciplines are welcome to attend. Springboard will be providing assistance with grants, exhibitions and career development, including: • Headshots • Scanning 2D artworks (limit 5 pieces) • Photographing for 2D and 3D artwork (limit 5 pieces) • Video of performances (limit 5 mins.) • Image sizing, editing and preparation assistance • Grant application reviews • Mini-consultations on taxes, grants, etc. You can drop in anytime between 1-7pm. The services are first come, first serve, though it’s recommended you sign up in advance for a grant or consultation meeting https://springboardforthearts.formstack.com/forms/pop_up_indigenous_roots
    Gratitude shout out to this talented crew dedicated to #arts, #culture and #community! Thank you to all the artists and community members who came tonight for Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s Next Step Fund Grant Workshop (due March 19). Best of luck! Stop by next week for the Springboard Pop Up Resource Center event!

     

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