As National Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, NAYA recently invited guest bloggers to share their thoughts on reasons why suicide continues to impact Indian Country to such an extent, and how building opportunities to talk about the issue can build hope. Content warning: These articles discuss issues that some community members may findView Article >
As MNA first day approaches, NAYA asks all staff to be vaxxed Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent the spread and severity of COVID-19. For months, NAYA has taken the strongest possible measures to keep its staff and clients safe during this pandemic. In response to the recent record-breaking surge in coronavirus casesView Article >
Prior to March 2020, NAYA’s kitchen staff—led by longtime Kitchen Manager Laura Booth—would arrive most mornings by 8 a.m., and prepare breakfast. On any given morning, the smell of bacon or pancakes would fill the NAYA lobby, as smiling community elders, Many Nations Academy students, and NAYA staff would line up in the hallway outsideView Article >
501(c)(4) organization will broaden political advocacy for Native community The Portland-based Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), is pleased to announce the creation of the NAYA Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization which will amplify NAYA’s already-strong political advocacy and engagement. As a social welfare-classified organization, the NAYA Action Fund can conduct lobbying, electoral organizing for politicalView Article >
tw: physical, sexual abuse, suicide, substance abuse, child death NAYA offers its heartbroken prayers and condolences to all who have been impacted by news of the discovery of the mass gravesite of 215 children at a Canadian residential school. These prayers are for the families directly impacted, but also our Indigenous relatives around the worldView Article >
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. Click here to watch NAYA Foster Care Support Specialist Daryle Conquering Bear discuss the impact that NAYA’s support programs can make on the lives of our young clients. Currently, there are over 430,000 youth in foster care. Statistics show that Native American children are far more likely toView Article >
“I think that NAYA’s housing program is very important. I think it’s life-changing for some people. If you can get involved in the program and you know what’s happening and you have the right person, I mean, they’re really awesome. They’re really awesome. They’re very supportive.” -Freya Meet Freya, who shares her story from beingView Article >
A Message from NAYA Executive Director Paul Lumley This past month marked one year since the COVID-19 pandemic required us to quarantine for the safety and protection of our communities. Across social media, you may have noticed friends and family posting different ways they’ve commemorated these “Quar-Anniversaries.” We at NAYA thought it a good ideaView Article >
January 13 was a momentous day for Rayven Settler, Yakama, and her son. After years of dreaming, planning, and hard work, it was finally move-in day at the home she had just purchased, making her a first-time homebuyer at last. Settler recently sat down to talk with us about her journey to homeownership, how NAYA’sView Article >
The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) wishes to extend this message of solidarity and support to our Asian-American relatives in Portland. NAYA further condemns recent incidents of anti-Asian bigotry, bullying, harassment, and violence in our community. In this past year, our city has seen long overdue conversations about racial and social justice finallyView Article >