Denver Indian Center, Inc.

Background Statement

During the 1950's, Denver was one of the original relocation cities identified in The Indian Relocation Act of 1952 (also known as Public Law 959 or the Adult Vocational Training Program) which was a United States law intended to encourage American Indians in the United States to leave their reservations, acquire vocational skills, and assimilate into the general population. As a result, Denver saw a large increase of native people from across the country resulting in a diverse multi-tribal community, searching for stability and opportunity. Denver has often been tagged as the "Crossroads of Indian Country". To help support and meet the needs of this group of people, the Denver Indian Center, Inc. (DICI) was founded in 1983 by Denver American Indian leaders to provide a gathering place for people from a wide array of tribes. From a 1985 agreement with the City and County of Denver, and under former Mayor Frederico Pena's administration, the DICI was given an unused school building for the purposes of a community center and eventually gained ownership. While some of the programs housed at the DICI have changed over the years, its essential purpose remains to serve as a resource for American Indians to adjust, and thrive in the Denver urban environment.. DICI initially prioritized workforce development and employment, early childhood education and youth development, since these were the needs most prevalent in the community. In 2015, DICI launched its Honoring Fatherhood Program in light of the fact that American Indian or Alaskan Native children are much more likely to live in a single-parent household or with grandparents than their non-American Indian counterparts. Today, DICI continues to serve this community, now estimated at 60,000. Many came to the city seeking economic stability, education and security for their families but still encounter isolation and economic invisibility. DICI is located in the Westwood neighborhood where most of the native population originally settled. It is an urban center where families can meet, access resources, celebrate their cultural heritage and successfully transition to city life through the provision of culturally relevant programming. DICI also began offering Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Commodity Supplement Food Program (CSFP) to support families and elders in need. DICI strives to meet three levels of needs: (a) short and long-term needs related to poverty (food and jobs), healthy living, youth and family, (b) the need for cultural connection-connecting to Native history and culture, including spiritual and social customs, and (c) the need for education and consultation to non-Native communities serving AI/AN populations such as providers and government officials)-helping them understand the issues affecting the American Indian community and how to best work with Native individuals and cultures. Often seen as the "go-to" center for American Indians in the Denver Metro Area and Front Range, DICI was honored as the Department of Labor's "Outstanding Grantee" in 2010.