The Indigenous People’s Community Church (IPCC) was established to provide traditional ceremonies for the Indigenous community while preserving and promoting Indigenous thoughts, beliefs, and practices. The church holds weekly, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal ceremonies rooted in Indigenous traditions and serves as a place where Indigenous community members can participate in those practices.
Central to IPCC’s work is Mexicayotl, an Indigenous philosophy that Atekpatzin, tribal elder and spiritual leader, describes as instructions for “how to live” in harmony and balance with the living universe and all of its creations. These teachings emphasize relationships with family, the natural world, ancestors, and future generations. They also shape how the church views each person’s role within the community. “In our tradition we believe that people come ‘arrayed’ into this world with gifts to bestow upon the community,” says Atekpatzin. “One of the foundational tenets of IPCC is to empower community members by teaching them to cast off the impositions and expectations of outsiders. With community support and encouragement, those in our community who might be ‘different’ in some way do not feel welcomed in our community, they feel that they are a part of the community with something significant to contribute.”
An Open Door Fund grant from CFBC helped IPCC continue that work by honoring members of their community who regard themselves as Two Spirit — a term Atekpatzin says is specifically for Indigenous individuals who fall outside of the western heteronormative gender binary. The grant has helped IPCC to hold six ceremonies in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Equality, with Xochipilli Two Spirit Ceremony Organizing Committee, and the Calmecaztlán. Grant funding also supported IPCC’s ability to send local delegates to participate in a national ceremonial gathering in California, and will enable IPCC’s participation in a 10-day ceremonial camp in New Mexico, supporting 5 of their members in a traditional rite of passage.
“Every member of our community is a member of our community,” says Atekpatzin. “We honor all the members of our community. We hold special ceremonies honoring the contributions that all members of our community make as a part of our collective well-being.”
We’re proud to support the Indigenous People’s Community Church and its work to preserve Indigenous thoughts, beliefs, and practices while creating opportunities for Indigenous community members to gather in ceremony.
The Indigenous People’s Community Church was awarded an Open Door Fund grant in 2025.
(Photo courtesy Indigenous People’s Community Church)
