Charly Edsitty
The UNITY News Online

Friday night’s Native American Journalist Association banquet was all about community.

Instead of hosting a lavish party at a five star hotel, NAJA opted for a simple event with good food and music surrounded by local Native Americans Friday night.

NAJA members packed into a tiny auditorium at Chicago’s American Indian Center.  The transformed Masonic temple still has subtle hints of what it used to be, but now welcomes an eclectic community of Native Americans.

Planning for this year’s banquet started last Aug. 1, explained Ron Evans, office manager for NAJA.  Evans was a part of  a three-member committee that took on the challenge.

Once plans for the Chicago location were finalized, the search for a location began.

“We thought it would be great to showcase (the center), it’s a great little community,” Evans said. “We wanted to do something closer to the community, closer to the heart.”

The building, originally built in 1926, spreads over an eighth of a block the Uptown Square Historic District and once served as a nuclear fallout shelter during the Cold War.  It was purchased by AIC in 1967 and is the only Indian center in the state of Illinois.

Guests dined on traditional cuisine, listened to the rhythmic beat of a drumming performance and came together celebrate the journalistic accomplishments of fellow members.

The location was suggested by member Minnie Two Shoes, who has been a member of NAJA since its start 24 years ago. She watched the transformation of the center from the very beginning and has a personal connection with the site.

“I learned how to pow wow (dance) in that auditorium,” said Two Shoes of the room where guests sat during the two-hour event.

Two Shoes explained that the center is the one of the oldest and largest Indian centers in the United States and was pleased to see money going from the event helping support the center and their need for renovations.

Paul DeMain, past president of both NAJA and UNITY, attended the event and explained that the decision to move the location farther away from the downtown area is symbolic and shows that NAJA isn’t hesitant to mingle with the locals.

“It was a good chance to have a meal together,” DeMain said. “Coming here is good for the people of the community. “ 

topic: uncategorized

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