Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio

Elder's Meditation of the Day—July 2

"If I destroy you, I destroy myself. If I honor you, I honor myself."

—Hunbatz Men, MAYAN

It is said, when we need love the most is when we deserve it the least. Whenever I have secret thoughts about someone else, it will put bad feelings inside myself. I will hurt myself. If I secretly hold a grudge or resentment against my brother or sister, I will be a slave to that person until I let them go. Let me remember to look at my brother in a sacred manner. Today, let my thoughts toward my brothers and sisters be good thoughts.

Creator, take my hand and guide me through today. Let me remember that You are in charge. If I get upset at another person today, let me remember that the most important thing I can do is to first talk to You. When I am right with You, it is impossible to be out of harmony with my brothers and sisters.

NAICCO Cuisine @ Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex

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NAICCO Canoe Trip

Kicking off the summer, getting out as a community, beating the heat, and making memories… was a goot day!!!

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NAICCO Youth Nature Walk

Thanks, David, for spending invaluable time with our youth, and for helping educate them about the importance of Mother Nature. We look forward to our next adventure together…

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NAICCO 2024 Graduation Celebration

We love you, offer our best in prayer, and thank you for being our future!

Photos courtesy of Rich-Joseph Facun

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NAICCO Cuisine @ Diamonds in the Rough (The Rambling House)

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NAICCO Fishing Outing

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Appalachia Ohio Alliance for making this special day possible for NAICCO Nation!

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NAICCO Foraging Adventure

Thanks, James, for making our outing together both adventurous and educational. We’re certainly looking forward to the next one.

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NAICCO Cuisine @ OSU-Newark

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Downtown Newark Food Truck Festival – NAICCO Cuisine’s First 2024 Event

Photos courtesy of Jammer H Photo

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At the time when the Haudenosaunee People came together to ratify the Great Peace, there was a total eclipse that darkened the skies so deeply that the nocturnal animals woke to encircle and witness the calm of the humans who unified under the Great White Pine. As Father Sun re-emerged from behind Grandmother Moon, all were awakened with a new sense of unity and peace.

Again, this sacred encounter between Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, and Mother Earth is taking place. Let us be still… Let us be quiet… Let us be reminded during this sacred moment in time of the Great Peace of the Haudenosaunee People… Let us pray together for healing, unity, and peace… ☀️🌕🌎

The capital improvement funding received from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and The Columbus Foundation for the NAICCO Renovation Project, both simultaneously helped significantly transform the interior of the NAICCO agency building. Starting just after the turn of the year, the interior of the NAICCO agency building underwent a very thorough and transformative overhaul. The interior renovations to the NAICCO agency building by way of this project include:

• All walls and doors painted on both the first floor and the top floor
• All ceiling tiles replaced on the first floor and the top floor
• All fluorescent ballasts replaced on all three floors (including basement) with new LED flat panel light fixtures
• Circuit panel replaced on the first floor with a larger one

Because of this project the inside of our NAICCO building looks incredible, is much safer and sound, and will assuredly help bring about a sense of pride among our Native American community who looks to this building as their home here in Ohio.

Appreciatively,
NAICCO Leadership
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MEET THE 5 NONPROFITS TO WATCH IN 2024 | The Columbus Foundation

On March 19, 1964, pilot Jerrie Mock, a Bexley resident and mother of three, boarded her single-engine Cessna, named Spirit of Columbus, and flew into history as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe solo.

Today, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of Jerrie’s historic takeoff, we’re pleased to introduce you to the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2024. Like Jerrie, these nonprofits demonstrate boldness in their actions, great optimism amidst the unexpected, and an incredible spirit.

Congratulations to:
Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio
Franklinton Farms
Mansion Day School
Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio
WAV – We Amplify Voices

Explore each organization’s incredible work at:

Meet the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2024 | The Columbus Foundation Each year, The Columbus Foundation recognizes 5 Nonprofits to Watch that are addressing pressing community issues. Congratulations to the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2024: Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, Franklinton Farms, Mansion Day School, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio,....

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

NAICCO Winter Gathering… rockin’ out one last time before the year ends!
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The End of 2023 is Upon Us!

Marking the end of Native American Heritage Month, Land Back NAICCO is now at an astounding $288,182! To date, 2023 has been nothing short of memorable, inspiring, humbling, and a true success for NAICCO! With the year rapidly ending, we are hoping to bring Land Back NAICCO up to $300,000. Hitting this mark to close out 2023 would be a huge win, as it will only strengthen NAICCO’s position to make a real move to purchase land in 2024. Please continue to stand with us as we endeavor forward in writing this new chapter in Native American history.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
• Donate land or get someone you know to donate land.
• Donate now by clicking on the "DONATE" button below.
• Bequeath assets to NAICCO.
• Share the Land Back NAICCO campaign with your friends, family, and other interested parties.
• Bring awareness to NAICCO and its mission.
• Start a personal Land Back NAICCO fundraiser via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fund/4NAICCO/).
• Start a personal Land Back NAICCO crowdfunding campaign; i.e., FundRazr, Fundly, GoFundMe, etc.
• Use the hashtag in your social media posts.
• Tag your friends.

Thank you for being the difference. Season’s blessings…

—Ty & Masami Smith, NAICCO Directorship

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In the Northwest, the Chiawana Tanan (River People) celebrate Indian New Year during the time of the winter solstice. The celebration is called kimtee inmewit. It goes back to when the world was new. During this time the first food that was created was usux, the salmon. The second food was nukt, the deer. The third was sliiton, the bitter root. And too, came the other foods that followed… These foods come back to the Chiawana Tanan each year as the sunlight begins to stretch again. Indian New Year is the time to celebrate the return of these sacred foods. To honor this sacred time of year the Chiawana Tanan sing, drum, dance, pray, and share a meal together in their tribal longhouses.

Sharing NAICCO’s story throughout Ohio and beyond during Native American Heritage Month…

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NAICCO Fall Harvest Feast… getting together as a community before the cold season blows in.

In honor of and on behalf of all those who personify NAICCO’s mission and vision work, Ty and Masami Smith humbly received a Resolution of Expression from Columbus City Council on Monday, December 4, 2023. Much love and respect goes out to Councilwoman Shayla D. Favor for introducing this significant resolution. To appreciate the language that makes up the Resolution of Expression that was presented to NAICCO please read below.

To Celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Recognize the Work and Contributions of NAICCO

WHEREAS, Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each November and marks a time for us to honor the historical contributions of Native peoples to our communities and appreciate the diversity, culture, and traditions of respective Native tribes; and,

WHEREAS, Native American Heritage Month was first recognized in 1990 through a joint resolution ratified by President George H.W. Bush, however the annual celebration can trace its roots to the early 1900’s where Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a member of the Seneca Tribe, successfully advocated to the American Indian Association for the recognition of American Indian Day; and,

WHEREAS, as of October 2023, the United States is home to over 2.2 million Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, with the U.S. Census estimating that roughly 35,000 Native Americans and Alaska Natives are living within Ohio; and,

WHEREAS, the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO) was founded in 1975 by Selma Sully-Walker, a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, to create a home for Native Americans living within Central Ohio; and,

WHEREAS, NAICCO’s mission is to preserve and restore balance in the lives of Native Americans through traditional, cultural, educational, family, community, and wellness driven values and initiatives; and,

WHEREAS, to accomplish this mission, NAICCO has developed two flagship programs: NAICCO Cuisine, a program promoting Native American cuisines, and Land Back NAICCO, an effort to purchase a permanent home for the NAICCO community; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby celebrates Native American Heritage Month and recognizes and appreciates the work and contributions of NAICCO, calling for all residents to honor this occasion with the appropriate educational and advocacy efforts.

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NAICCO : Land Back NAICCO—TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Today is NAICCO : Land Back NAICCO!!! This is the day to give… the day to help make a real difference… the day to step up on behalf of a very important initiative… the day to help write a new successful chapter in Native American history in Ohio… the day to help NAICCO reach its year-end goal of $300,000!!!

To honor the true spirit of Native American Heritage Month and to support a noble cause, choose Land Back NAICCO for . Join us in making this a historic day, one that counts towards the long overdue healing of our Native People! To do so, you simply need to click on the “Donate” button below.

Blessings,
NAICCO
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“Central Ohio Indigenous group reaches Land Back campaign goal” – Matter News

(Click on the picture below to read the full story)

https://www.matternews.org/community/central-ohio-indigenous-group-reaches-land-back-campaign-goal
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Central Ohio Indigenous group reaches Land Back campaign goal “We are losing our ways,” said Ty Smith, project director for Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO).“Unfortunately, as each generation passes,