The Intertribal Friendship House (IFH)is the oldest Urban Native American Community Center in the nation. For over fifty years it has served as the heart of the Bay Area Indian Community. It has also served as the meeting place and organizing center for American Indian activism of the 1960s and '70s including the occupation of Alcatraz, the initiation of the Long Walk, and the creation of the Survival School, among many other events and actions that had far-reaching effects nationally, many of which continue today.

It was established in 1955 to respond to the needs of American Indian people of many tribes who had migrated into the area through the Federal relocation program. Since that time, a large and active American Indian community has come to exist in the Bay Area. Similar American Indian communities are found in most urban areas of the Unite States, so that now more India people live in urban areas than in rural areas.

Yet the existence of American Indians in urban areas is often unknown to the public at large. In fact, urban Indian communities are generally invisible to those outside.

This invisibility, now made worse by the severe undercount of urban Indian people by the 2000 census, greatly undermines the ability of urban Indian organizations to develop and fund urgently needed programs in health, social services, and education.

In addition, treaty agreements, which by and large are land-based agreements with Federally recognized tribes, do not extend to American Indians living in cities.

For Urban Native Peoples IFH has served as the Urban Reservation and Homeland. In many cases it is one of the few things that keeps them connected to their culture and traditions through pow wow dance, drumming , beading classes, and the many social gatherings, cultural events, and ceremonies that are held there. IFH thrived with a multitude of programs from employment training, preschool, summer camps, social work, holiday celebrations and the Wednesday Night Dinners that kept community members connected. IFH became the model that other Indian Centers with a specific focus grew out of and replicated.

In recent years though IFH has suffered disarray leaving the house with a $30, 000 debt of unpaid taxes. Complicating the issue are real estate vultures that are looking to redevelop that zone of Oakland where IFH is as that zone is one of the few in Oakland that will allow
high-rises. The community has had two emergency meetings and has established committees to not lose the house. So far $5,000 has been raised with a plan of immediate fund-raisers and a long term plan is being developed to not let this happen again.

Act now

We have no time to spare. We must pay our tax bill in March.
Commercial interests are already scoping out our building. The city
has designated our neighborhood as a "special redevelopment zone." So,
developers are envisioning high-rises, while the city dreams of new
tax dollars. The House is valuable real estate by anyone's estimation.
But for Oakland's Indian community, its value is incalculable, its
history is rich, and in the bay area's high rent district, it can
never be replaced.



Our future is bright

This crisis has brought the community together. We are determined to
hold onto our House, and ensure its economic viability for generations
to come. We are laying plans to ensure that we won't be passing the
hat again come tax time next year. Please do what you can to help support the house.


Save the Legacy!

Fundraiser Events for the
Intertribal Friendship House

Friday, Feb 23

Save the Legacy
All Ages Show
$10
6:00 - 10:00 PM
No Alcohol or Drugs!

Intertribal Friendship House
523 International Blvd, Oakland
(between 5th and 6th Avenue)

Performers include:
All Nations Drummers
Ras K'Dee and Eric Paul of One Struggle Band
Headrush
Goodshield of the band 7th Generation Rise
Nosys

Live Broadcast on KPFA 94.1 FM at 8:00 PM!

For more info Call George Galvis @ 510.689-7350

Saturday, Feb 24



Medicine Warriors All Nations Round Dance
4:00 - 10:00 PM

Location Intertribal Friendship House
523 International Blvd. in East Oakland
(between 5th and 6th Avenue)


We are having our first ever Round Dance with dance and hand drum contests. I want to invite you to join us on Saturday, February 24th from 4-10 PM at Intertribal Friendship House; 523 International Blvd. in East Oakland (between 5th and 6th Avenue).

For more info Call Pat St. Onge @ 510.530.2448



Upcoming events include:

Thursday, March 15

Intertribal Friendship House
523 International Blvd. in East Oakland
(between 5th and 6th Avenue)
7:00 - 9:00 PM $8-10 sliding scale
Community Potluck! Please bring a dish to share.

Film Screening with director Floyd Red Crow Westerman

America's Destruction of Indian Nations:
Exterminate Them! The California Story
Director: Floyd Westerman
Running Time: 48 min.
Genre: Documentary Feature

America's Destruction of Indian Nations: Exterminate Them! The California Story is a documentary that examines the crime scenes hidden between the lines of history. By revealing the systematic role of extermination that each state played in this tragic but true story.

Hosted by Floyd Red Crow Westerman, the film is a California history told primarily by Indians, and most importantly, the Indian point of view.



Friday, March 16

Cafe' Axe' Cultural Center
1525 Webster St, Downtown Oakland, Ca. 94612
All Ages Show No Alcohol or Drugs!
7 PM -2 AM
$10-15 sliding scale

Performers include:

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Colored Ink
Goodshield
One Struggle
Brown Buffalo
Entre Musicos
E-legal MC
DJ Oye
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Saturday March 17
Eastside Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd @ 23rd Avenue, Oakland
All Ages Show No Alcohol or Drugs!
$10-15 sliding scale
4-10 PM
Children's Programming from 4- 6:30 PM


Blackfire
Goodshield
More performers to be announced!


For more info:
Morning Star Gali 510.827.6719
George Galvis 510.689-7350


IFH Website:

http://ifh07.freehostia.com/news.php

IFH Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/ifhoaklandca