Frances “Frannie” Fairbanks (Red Lake Nation), a devoted advocate for the Native American community, left an indelible mark through her leadership at the Minneapolis American Indian Center from 1975 until her retirement in 2012. Rising from an employment counselor to executive director in 1984, she navigated MAIC through economic challenges in the 1980s, ensuring its resilience as a crucial urban Native resource. During Fairbanks time as executive director, she built strong relations with tribal leaders, community organizers, and politicians who supported the center and its programs. She helped provide jobs for Native youth, meals for elders, and affordable housing for adults suffering from alcohol addiction.

 

In the 1970s, Frannie was a founding member of the American Indian Movement (AIM); she fiercely fought for Native rights, addressing systemic injustices. Her mentorship shaped countless young Native leaders, fostering cultural pride and resilience. She walked on from this world in 2017, but her legacy continues to inspire, shaping the landscape of the Native American community she served with unwavering dedication.

 

The Frances Fairbanks Memorial Gymnasium is a tribute to Frannie and her impact at the center. In the hall outside the gym, there is a plaque and a beautiful painting of Frannie, created by Moira Villiard, a direct Fond du Lac descendant based in Duluth. All are invited to come use the gymnasium space and see the tribute to Frannie. 

 

The gym is also home to the “I See Generations: Keep Tobacco Sacred” mural, which had been on an exterior wall of the center before renovations.