Three Rivers American Indian Center to Visit Dormont

Have you ever wondered why the logo for Dormont’s is its namesake—a dream catcher?

The symbol is a link to American Indian heritage, and the history of that heritage in Southwestern Pennsylvania. That history is something Gil Cutruzzula hopes to bring to more people in the South Hills.

On Sept. 17 and 18, Cutruzzula will have a booth in front of Dream Catchers Films on West Liberty Avenue with information about the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center. Cutruzzula is the Elders Program Director for the organization.

“I’m reaching out to find Native American people living in the South Hills,” Cutruzzula said. “We have very little membership in that area.”

The Three Rivers American Indian Center was founded in 1969 to provide American Indian people, and those of American Indian decent, the opportunity to meet and share their culture, history and education.

It has outreach programs for the elderly, counseling, a food bank, and it sponsors Head Start and Pre-K centers in the Pittsburgh area, including the preschool program at Our Lady of Loreto School on Pioneer Avenue in Brookline.

Its headquarters are in Dorseyville, and it serves all of Allegheny County.

Cutruzzula said he has visited libraries and other organizations throughout the South Hills, but wanted to set up a booth at a location where more people could see it, and stop to talk.

Dream Catchers Films owner Leonard Lies is a member, and his business has done video work for the center.

The center is the only American Indian center in Allegheny County, he said, and he wants to encourage people to join and enjoy it.

“No matter how much of the blood line they have in them, we want them to look into it,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a great part of history.”

More information can be found on the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center website.

This story originally appeared on Dormont-Brookline Patch