My New York

When I first moved to New York almost eight years ago the first place I went to find work was the American Indian Community House (think of New York’s version of the Native Friendship Center of Montreal).
I knew from my research that they had an employment program. Having just moved to a new country with no job prospects, I didn’t know what to expect but was warmly welcomed and shown into Rosemary Richmond’s office.
Originally from Akwesasne and raised in Connecticut, Rosemary served as Executive Director of the Community House for most of its inception.
Little did I know that from that first meeting I would be offered a temporary job in fundraising for AICH that would last almost a year and a half.
Having lived in Kahnawake for most of my life, it was a bit of a challenge transitioning to an urban environment of Native Americans.
It’s not a perfect organization, politics get in the way, enrolled vs. not enrolled, reservation raised vs. city raised.
But I enjoyed my time there, made friends and received valuable job training. I also saw the value in the work they did: job counseling, a thriving performing arts program and health education, all on a very limited budget.
When I left in 2004 to work for the Museum of the American Indian, I promised myself that I would continue to be an active member of the AICH community. It was a promise that I let lapse and that I always felt bad about.
True, I saw friends and former co-workers at events a few times a year, but they were always few and far between.
Given the strong community (Kahnawake) I had come from, I guess I felt in a way that AICH could never measure up. In a way, it was almost easy for me to walk away.
After all, even though many people from Kahnawake were instrumental in the formation of AICH, didn’t we demonstrate through Little Caughnawaga that we only needed each other? I guess that was my thinking at the time.
The rumor of Rosemary’s impending retirement were prevalent for years, even when I used to work at AICH, but less than a year ago it came to fruition.
The Community House is now under new leadership and as a way to bring the community closer together and become a stronger organization, the new Executive Director, Joanne Chase, has been organizing Community Forums.
I was invited to attend all three, but my schedule only permitted me to attend the last one on April 3rd.
I admit the main reason I attended was to hear invited guest Tom Porter speak, but from the moment I entered I was glad I had made the decision to come. I was amazed at the turn out and greeted warmly by old friends and acquaintances I hadn’t seen in awhile and for the first time ever, I saw and heard what the Community House means to this group of urban Natives.
Just like a family, AICH can be dysfunctional and has its problems, but you stick by your family and that’s what I witnessed that day.
I think that after almost eight years of living in New York and the various twists and turns that my life has taken, I can finally say that I know who I am.
I no longer have to choose between being a rural or urban Native. I am both. I may never be a fully active member of AICH but it’s helped shape who I am today and I will be there to see it grow into a new phase.