The Minnesota Indian Women”™s Resource Center (MIWRC) is a non-profit community organization that provides social services and education to American Indian women and their families. 

Established in 1984 by three local Native women and one male Native ally, its mission is to empower American Indian women and families to exercise their cultural values and integrity, and to achieve sustainable life ways, while advocating for justice and equity. 

MIWRC programs provide support, advocacy, and activities that utilize traditional teachings and other cultural strengths to encourage healing, build resilience, and counter the normalization of violence.

Departments collaborate to:

Ӣ Empower Native American women to live violence-free lives

Ӣ Provide a safe place for women to explore their life options

Ӣ Challenge systems that disenfranchise Native American women

Ӣ Create a more just environment for all women and their families

Safe Harbor Youth Program

The Safe Harbor Youth Program at the Minnesota Indian Women”™s Resource Center (MIWRC) is a supportive service program for youth ages 24 and under who have experienced sexual exploitation or are at risk of sexual exploitation.

Some examples of these services include:

Ӣ Basic needs assistance (food, shelter, etc.)

Ӣ Transportation assistance

Ӣ Job search assistance

Ӣ Culturally supportive services

Ӣ Information about group and community activities

Ӣ Referrals to other supportive programs

Self-referrals accepted.

To get more information or make a referral, please contact Logan Tootle at 612-728-2020 or ltootle@miwrc.org

Healing Journey

One of MIWRC”™s longest continuously-funded direct service programs, Healing Journey is a peer-led support program for adult American Indian women aged 22 and older who are challenged by chronic mental health, substance abuse, and trauma histories. The Healing Journey program utilizes harm reduction strategies and the Ojibwe teaching “zhoo-way-nah-dig” (“taking care of each other”) to provide safe space and time for women to walk their own healing path at their own pace. 

This model operates from cultural teachings that prioritize the process of working toward a life “in balance” over linear markers of success, such as total abstention from substance use, while connecting women with a support system of staff and peers who view them as vital, contributing community members regardless of their past or current struggles.

Learn more at: Minnesota Indian Women”™s Resource Center 2300 15th Avenue S., Minneapolis,  55404; 612-728-2000; www.miwrc.org.

~ Information from Minnesota Indian Women”™s Resource Center.

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