About Woodland Indian Art Center

Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Community Inc.’s mission is to empower residents to eliminate poverty through successful partnerships grounded in the belief that all life is interrelated, and inspired by a sense of responsibility to the Earth and future generations. NiiJii is a partnership between the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community of Mole Lake, together with eight municipal partners in northern Wisconsin.

In 2009, Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Community Inc. was awarded a three-year USDA-Rural Business Economic Development Grant to implement a Native Arts Initiative through the Woodland Indian Art Center located in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

While a substantial percentage of Tribal members self-identify as artisans and engage in making Native Woodland arts and crafts, only about 2% of the total population are currently employed or making a living through their art. Tribal members worked with Northwoods NiiJii to identify the need for entrepreneurial training and investment in preserving and capitalizing on the Native arts and cultural assets of the community as a way toward achieving self-sufficiency and economic sustainability.

The Woodland Indian Art Center lays the foundation for Northwoods NiiJii to develop future cultural capacity-building grants for Native arts and culture initiatives. To date Northwoods NiiJii has been awarded additional grants for Native arts and culture programming and projects through: The Wisconsin Arts Board; The Wisconsin Humanities Council; The Seventh Generation Fund; National Endowment for the Arts; Wisconsin Public Service Foundation; St. Matthias Foundation.

Mission of the Woodland Indian Art Center

• Develop a self-sustaining, culturally appropriate, entrepreneurial incubator for Native artists
• Provide direct participation between Native artists, NiiJii staff, and arts board in decision-making and development of gallery programs, exhibitions, workshops, and events;
• Provide entrepreneurial support to Native artists and provide space for Native artists to exhibit and sell artwork and increase economic self-sufficiency for Native artists;
• Leverage the artistic and cultural assets of the community to create partnerships and opportunities that will create significant economic growth for the community.