A New Chapter at Chaku Kumtuks Illahee

Chaku Kumtuks Illahee marks an exciting new chapter for NAYA, bringing together multiple departments, including Community Development, Housing and Stabilization Services, Family Services, and the NAYA Kitchen team, to create a supportive, family-centered early learning space.

Now housed at Chaku Kumtuks Haws, NAYA’s Early Head Start program serves 12 children ages 6 weeks to 3 years, operating 8 am - 5 pm with no-cost meals provided. Enrollment is based on a federal point system, and there is currently a waitlist.

Also on site, NAYA’s Preschool for All classroom serves 26 children ages 3–5 (must be 3 by September 1 and live in Multnomah County). The program runs 7:45 am – 5:45 pm with no income requirements. Families must apply through Preschool for All and can select “DM14 – Chaku Kumtuks Illahee” as their first choice.

It is highly recommended that families get help navigating enrollment through NAYA’s Preschool for All Family Navigator, Melinda Naranjo, who offers application support, counseling, and referrals.

The space is also home to naat ?a hi ? it - WE ARE STILL HERE, a large-scale mural in the children's play area celebrating Indigenous relationships to land, food, and culture. Featuring camas flowers, berries, salmon, deer, and moon cycles, the artwork affirms the living relationships between Indigenous peoples and the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest. Drawing from Klamath and Coast Salish artistic traditions, it stands as a vibrant declaration of continuity, culture, and presence.

This new chapter embodies NAYA’s holistic approach supporting children, uplifting families, and honoring culture. As the community grows around Chaku Kumtuks Illahee, so does the vision for a future rooted in care, connection, and resilience.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Contact:

Early Head Start waitlist: Sarah Cassidy | (971) 272-4553 | sarah.cassidy@ocdc.net
Preschool for All support: Melinda Naranjo | (971) 990-6801 | melindan@nayapdx.org  
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