History
MIGIZI was founded with a goal of countering the misrepresentations, inaccuracies, and falsehoods promulgated about Native Peoples in the major media. Over the course of its thirty-two year history, MIGIZI has trained journalists, produced the first nationally distributed Indian news magazine in the country, and placed the powerful tools of media and communication in the hands of at-risk American Indian youth with the goals of enhancing their self-esteem and improving their academic performance.
Organizational Timeline
1975
American Indian Journalists and university students meet together to discuss the possibility of a regional news organization after the American Indian Press Association in Washington, D.C. closes its doors. They discuss the damage the mid 1970s recession had done to newspaper publishing in Indian America. Over half of all newsletters, newspapers, and other publications had gone under, victims of the rising costs of paper and printing and the plummeting revenues from advertising.
1976
American Indian university students broadcast a five-minute daily news segment on KUOM-AM, the University of Minnesota radio station. Discussions on formation of a regional news organization continue.
1977
The journalist and student group choose the name, "MIGIZI," bald eagle in the Ojibwe language, for the organization because the bird signifies communication as well as guardianship and high standards. These elements are what the group wants the organization to aspire to throughout its history - excellence of communication, guardianship of the public trust and high standards for reporting and ethics.
MIGIZI Communications, Inc. is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the State of Minnesota The all-volunteer board assumes the duties of a staff and begin producing a half hour weekly program called, "The Native American Program." The show is broadcast over KUOM-AM and a local commercial station KQRS-FM. Audience response is positive, particularly that of late night truckers who are hearing the program at midnight on the FM station. Development of plans for regional and national distribution of the program follow.
1978
Resources are extremely limited. The first grant in the history of the organization comes from the Lutheran Church - American Indian ministers on the grants committee see value in the little fledgling organization.
1979
MIGIZI Communications moves into its first independent offices. Funding is coming in from the Dayton Hudson Corporation, General Mills, and the Honeywell Corporation. The Division of Indian Work of the regional Council of Churches provides furnishings, supplies, and funds for travel to produce news segments. The program is growing and picking up subscriber stations from Minnesota and some of the Western States.
1980
The Native American Program becomes "First Person Radio," (FPR) named by board member Janice Command following an all night session to develop the organization's case statement and plan for program distribution. First Person Radio captures the essence of American Indian identity and is less cumbersome than the previous name (and the dozens of other names that littered the floor on scraps of paper). Funding continues to come in as the program gains recognition. The Producer and News Director positions will be handed over from the volunteer board members to paid staff and a search will commence for an Executive Director.
1981
MIGIZI is training up to eight university interns at a time in radio production, engineering and management techniques. Gary Fife (Creek-Cherokee) is hired as the first executive director. He also takes on responsibility as news director. He comes from the American Indian Press Association and Association on American Indian Affairs with experience and professional training in journalism. Michael Dalby joins MIGIZI as producer and engineer. He designs the new studio facilities and installs and calibrates all the new equipment.
1982
FPR becomes the first regular Native offering to be carried over National Public Radio's satellite system. MIGIZI begins producing the weekly local television public affairs program, Madagimo, for KARE-TV. We continue to produce other live radio programs, video documentaries and technical support to other organizations. Support for the organization now totals $200,000. Program distribution for the weekly half-hour program is 15 stations.
1983 to 1991
Distribution of the program grows to 55 stations across the U.S. and Canada. The first federal grant is approved, supporting work with American Indian high school students and broadening training and education to include core academic studies and the use of communications as a tool for learning. First computer lab is built in 1983 and first computer camp conducted jointly with Robbinsdale School District American Indian students. The educational portion of MIGIZI grows to include adult students and cultural education. MIGIZI supports the annual Sugar bush camp directed by Walter Porky White, assisted by Madeline Moose.
1985 to 1990
"The Cloud Family Collection." with language arts lessons and eight radio plays for elementary students is produced by MIGIZI. The story line of the collection is about a modern Native family living in an urban area and the day to day problems they encounter and solve. It demystifies ideas about what Native people are like, and teaches the fun of using communications arts in the classroom.
1992
The series Coming from America, receives the National Headliner Award for best radio documentary. First Person Productions becomes the umbrella for diversified media production within MIGIZI .FPP produces the tour tape for the Minneapolis Institute of Art's largest American Indian Plains exhibit which opened in October, 1992. MIGIZI discontinues producing FPR due to rising production and distribution costs and hampered by waning funder interest and the inability of stations to pay for the program's costs.
1993 to 1998
As FPR disappears from the center of MIGIZI's work, diversification continues. The most significant outgrowth of First Person Productions is the creation of NNIC.com -- National Native Internet Communications. In education, Native Academy replaces Achievement through Communications as the core educational program. The Family Education Center is developed to address health issues in the American Indian community, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
1999
The Community Technology Consortium (CTC) is formed, comprised of 14 Twin Cities’ organizations. The goal of the CTC is to close the “digital divide” for American Indians and people of color by creating and providing ready access to technology learning centers within Twin Cities cultural communities.
2000
We complete a significant renovation to accommodate two new tenants: Native Arts High School and Transitions Middle School. We built and opened the new Running Wolf Fitness Center, serving children and adults. The center has a special focus on diabetes.
2001
We add many new iMacs to our computer labs to accommodate 40 tech interns. We add furnishings, software, and wiring. We provide internet access and/or technical and administrative support for building tenants. We continue to develop Web sites for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
2002
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation selects MIGIZI as one of six sites around the country to launch its new Kellogg Leadership for Community Change Initiative with a focus on community as the context for leadership development. Native Academy is awarded the first of three multi-year grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education to increase the graduation rates and postsecondary preparedness of American Indian students.
2003 to 2004
MIGIZI is awarded its first grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans to strengthen American Indian families through a return to traditional cultural values and practices. The program is conducted in partnership with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. MIGIZI is a founding member of the Native Media and Technology Network, a national association of Indian media organizations dedicated to the creation and distribution of Indian media content. Laura Waterman Wittstock, founder and long-time President of MIGIZI, retires after 27 years of service. She is succeeded by Elaine J. Salinas.
2005
Two graduates of MIGIZI’s programs travel to Los Angeles to participate in the week-long American Indian Summer Institute sponsored by FOX Entertainment, Diversity Division. The Institute focuses on exposing Indian young people from around the country to all facets of the entertainment industry with a focus on production of a media product for national distribution. MIGIZI begins development of its New Media Pathway Project that will provide Indian youth with a multi-year learning experience related to new media production and 21st Century careers.
2006
Following a year-long review, a decision is made to close NNIC.com. Introduction of new web creation software has dramatically reduced the market for the website development services provided by NNIC.com and enabled organizations and individual entrepreneurs to do this work on their own.
2007
Running Wolf Fitness Center is transferred to the joint sponsorship of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis and the Native American Community Clinic enabling the Center to remain open to the community and continue its tenure as the only fitness center in the Twin Cities metro area specifically designed to serve the health and wellness needs of the American Indian community.
MIGIZI’s 30th Anniversary celebration is held in the Jackson Room of The Travelers and is attended by over 150 former staff, board members, and supporters. The theme for the celebration is “Honoring Our Past…Embracing Our Future” and features a traditional walleye dinner, speakers, an anniversary video, and an honoring ceremony for past and present organizational leaders and supporters.
2008
MIGIZI receives the Commissioner’s Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans for its outstanding work developing American Indian youth. Native Academy is recognized with its third multi-year grant award in the past ten years from the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education. A second multi-year grant is received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans to support the development of a cultural and economic corridor on Franklin Avenue and train Indian youth in new media production to support and sustain the cultural corridor development.
2009
A student who has participated in our Native Academy program for the past four years is selected from a national field of other Indian students to present her project at the International Science Fair held in Reno, Nevada. She is the first American Indian student from Minneapolis to earn this opportunity.