Changing Systems. Changing Lives.
Welcome to Mino-Bimaadiziwin, "the good life" we are building around Little Traverse Bay.
Biindigaw
WE INVITE YOU TO COME IN
Welcome to Mino-Bimaadiziwin, "the good life" we are building around Little Traverse Bay.
About Miigwech
Miigwech, Inc. is a nonprofit organization driven by a single goal: to promote and practice Mino-Bimaadiziwin (The Good Life) by making our community a better place for all. We provide services, share teachings, advocate for new policies, and build understanding of Mino-Bimaadiziwin within the Wagankising community.
OUR MISSION
Promote a positive environment that encourages growth, critical thinking skills, reasoning, global conscience, respect for diversity, and education that is seated in the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings.
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FEATURED INITIATIVE:
Rock the Native Vote
Getting our Indigenous community members to the polls, ensuring our rights are protected & our voices are heard.
Until the 1980s, Indigenous People in the United States were not able to exercise their freedom to vote. Even today, elected officials continue to prevent Native Americans and other marginalized communities from reaching the polls and having their opinions heard.
We deserve to have a say about the policies and systems that directly affect us. Using our voices to vote is so important for us to preserve our sacred traditions and the teachings that our elders taught us to continue for the next seven generations. That's why Miigwech, Inc. has launched a statewide Rock the Native Vote campaign to register Indigenous voters and encourage them to make a plan to vote—not just in the presidential election, but in state, local, and tribal elections.
After being denied our rights for so long, we feel it is important for other Natives to see themselves represented in the media and out in the world. We have been meeting with Indigenous folks and their families in communities all around Michigan, engaging in conversations about why voting is important to keep our voices heard.
See our full portfolio of Indigenous models, from Detroit to Grand Rapids to the Upper Peninsula, and why they are choosing to vote.
How We Make Change
We focus on three main approaches in order to live Mino-Bimaadiziwin and create a better community for all.
DIRECT ASSISTANCE
Providing funds, social support, and other resources to uplift community members
With this initiative, our goal is to increase great opportunities for everyone in our community, especially women, BIPOC, and other disadvantaged groups. Access to the right resources can empower residents and grow their skills and confidence, creating a strong local economy and improving quality of life for all.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Sharing Wisdom from Those Here First
This program aims to inspire system change within the Greater Waganakising Community, putting Indigenous peoples at the heart. We lead workshops, teach small groups, and provide resources that foster understanding, creativity, and curiosity to motivate and encourage growth. We continue to promote the history of Waganakising ancestors while creating a brighter future for the next Seven Generations.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Working towards a just and sustainable community by changing underlying systems.
While quick fixes keep our heads above water in the short-term, they do not address the root causes of our problems. We are in it for the long-haul: going to county and state planning meetings, disrupting the status quo, and putting a stop to harmful policies and practices that keep us from living Mino-Bimaadiziwin.
Get in Touch
Meredith Kennedy, Executive Director
Waganakising (Harbor Springs, Michigan)
Please mail all checks to:
Miigwech, Inc.
3676 Kee Wad Noong Circle
Harbor Springs, MI 49740