A new mural along Bemidji Avenue celebrates culture, community and connection

BEMIDJI – Mino-Bimaadiziwin is an important principle in Anishinaabe culture, often translated as “living a healthy life” or “walking a good path.”

However, its meaning is more complex than these simple phrases, with layers of meaning that are difficult to fully explain in English.

Mino-Bimaadiziwin is about more than self-care and is not based on economic success. It encourages living mindfully and thoughtfully, understanding that what you do is connected to something bigger, and making sure you respect and harmonize with the world around you.

It’s understanding that your actions don’t exist in isolation – they affect your community, environment and future.

Mino-Bimaadiziwin asks that people live in a way that reflects these values, willing to live a meaningful life that enhances personal and collective well-being.

This is the vision that Martin Jennings, director of the Northwest Indian Community Development Center, received when he and Joan Kauppi, the project coordinator, decided to start a mural project in their building this summer this one.

Jennings explained that the mural project is in line with the values ​​of mino-bimaadiziwin, emphasizing a balanced way of living. He said: “My hope is that this is a reflection of the ways of life of the natives in the past and in the present day.

“All the programs at NWICDC lead to a healthy, happy life. It’s how you live your days, how you interact with people, how you make your decisions,” Jennings added.

Guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Jennings noted that this philosophy is based on 7 important principles.

“Wisdom, courage, honesty, humility, love, respect and truth… When you follow those virtues, they keep you focused and grounded,” he affirmed.

Jennings also said that Mino-bimaadiziwin is not concerned with financial success.

“This life is good when it is explained as an economic term. It’s not about being a capitalist or valuing independence. That’s not what these roads are,” he explained.

Through the street project, Jennings hopes that it will encourage native and non-native residents to take an interest in learning more about the center, the ways of healing and music.

This project aims to represent Indigenous culture, increase visibility and bring communities together in a meaningful way.

This work was made possible by the voters of Minnesota, with the help of a District 2 Arts grant, thanks to an appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Kauppi, who helped secure the grant for the project through District 2, emphasized the importance of visibility.

He said: “We feel that NWICDC is often overlooked, and many people in the community may not be aware of our existence.” We want everyone to know that we are an active part of this community, we are connected. This mural is our way of showing that we live, we embrace blended families and we respect inclusivity. ”

Jennings emphasized the role of the mural in bringing visibility to the local Indian population, not just to the organization itself.

“We bought this building about a year and a half ago, and it’s probably one of the few native buildings in Bemidji,” Jennings said. “We’re a 35-year-old organization, a part of this community, and now we want this building to be a reflection of who we are – a reflection of our strength.”

He added that the work of art will become a symbol of strength and unity, bridging the underprivileged Indian community and the elite in a new, positive way.

“We want this place to be an open, welcoming place that draws people in,” he continued. “Art has traditionally been one of those things that transcends division, that attracts people to its beauty.”

Led by Anishinaabe artist Sylvia Houle, the mural is painted on the east side of the NWICDC building facing Bemidji State University. He explained how the artwork serves as a symbol of cultural pride, including the resilience of Indigenous peoples in the region, inviting everyone to participate in understanding its deeper meaning.

For Houle, the mural is deeply personal and resonates with her beliefs about the healing power of art.

“It has a lot to do with some of my beliefs as an artist and as an individual in Indian communities,” he said. it feels like art. It’s like a natural healing process, so I was very happy when I heard that my proposal was accepted for this project.”

Houle’s artistic journey shows a deep connection with his Anishinaabe culture, which he did not grow up learning but has embraced.

“I started with tablets on the side of the road when I was still young, and I grew up in villages that were not good, but I continued to understand where I came from, because I did not grow up with the lessons of my family,” he explained. . “And it’s been the last few years that I’ve been learning more about Anishinaabe culture.

He explained his desire to help others find or reconnect with their roots.

He added: “I want to share that kind of experience with others because I know there are so many people, even from different backgrounds who struggle with the same thing, who try to find out who they are, where they come from.

Once completed, the mural will be a visual narrative, combining ancestral Anishinaabe practices such as rice and medicine gathering with modern elements such as vehicles and buildings, depicting traditions and modern social life.

“I see people of different ages, races and backgrounds. It teaches appreciation by building community together by sharing culture,” Houle shared.

Under Houle’s guidance, students ages 13 to 18 have been helping him paint the mural. The project also serves as a space for intergenerational education, which is the main focus of Houle’s work with young artists.

“I’ve been painting since 2021, and this is my first big project to be a major artist,” Houle shared. “It’s been a great experience so far, getting to know the young people I work with, as well as NWICDC, and learning about all the amazing programs they offer to the Bemidji community and surrounding areas.”

Houle also said that the young artists he teaches have begun to open up and express themselves through the creative process. At first, they were shy and uncommunicative, as teenagers are by nature. But by showing that you are a real person, not just a big person, an approachable person, I have seen them open up slowly.”

“They’re also starting to learn how to create in this situation, which has been really fun to watch,” Houle added.

Jennings emphasized the broader importance of art as a cultural expression.

“When you look at colonialism and the disruption of family language and culture, the one thing they didn’t take away was art. So, artists really carry the culture. ”

He stressed that showing art is still a way for the people of the ethnic groups to be able to focus on the issues of their culture and to focus on their spirituality even when other ways were suppressed.

“This art was an expression of many ways to preserve the stories of the culture and that understanding, but only one way was allowed to continue,” Jennings added.

This plan is just one step in NWICDC’s vision for the future. Jennings explained that the goal is to create a lasting impact.

“The primary goals will be to increase the organization’s visibility and the richness of the indigenous heritage and culture of the greater Bemidji area,” he said. different points about our value system, which is more inclusive and loving and compassionate. “

Jennings hopes the mural is the start of even bigger things for the center.

“I want future generations for this to be the beginning of a reflection of the wealth and power of the Indian community and greater Bemidji,” he added “And you know, when a child comes to town they can look and see something .so that they understand what respects and values ​​them.”

When the mural is alive, being at the center is not just a visual representation, but a statement about cultural resilience, healing, broader community engagement and unity within important indigenous traditions and strengthen families and build community.

Those interested in seeing this painting for themselves can see it right on the east side of the NWICDC building, located at 1819 Bemidji Ave. N, across from the Bemidji State University baseball field and John Glas Fieldhouse.