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Statement of Solidarity
We condemn the violence inflicted by federal immigration enforcement agencies and affiliated federal law enforcement personal operating under the direction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and, most notably, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The killing of a mother of three, Renee Good, in Minneapolis, and the shooting of Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras in Portland by a Border Patrol agent are acts of violence and intimidation that harm families, traumatize communities, and deepen fear among those who are already vulnerable.
Indigenous Peoples are being directly impacted. Tribal citizens have been wrongfully stopped, questioned, and detained based on appearance or language. Tribal IDs and Federal Certificates of Indian Blood have reportedly been dismissed, leading to violent arrests and prolonging unlawful detentions. These encounters cause profound psychological harm, retraumatizing communities with a long history of displacement and government-inflicted violence. Fear of ICE disrupts daily life, limits access to school, work, and important services, while destabilizing entire families and communities. These practices violate basic civil liberties, undermine Tribal sovereignty, and put Native Peoples at risk when moving within their own ancestral homelands that exist across colonial borders.
NAYA stands in solidarity with immigrants in our neighborhoods and community, as well as with all who live in fear. We call for accountability, transparency, and dignity for all people, and for an immediate end to practices that criminalize, dehumanize, and endanger our communities. We remain committed to protecting our relatives and will continue this work through community-building and advocacy efforts. At the next Portland Youth and Elders Council gathering on Saturday, January 24, from 1-3 pm at NAYA, there will be a presentation from Native American Program Legal Aid Services of Oregon. This is open to our community members and residents of Oregon and Washington.
Topics will include constitutional protections and guidance around engagement with immigration enforcement, including what is and is not required to share, including documentation that may be requested, and the role of Tribal IDs.
“This is an incredible and significant opportunity for NAYA and the Native community,” said NAYA’s CEO Oscar Arana (Chichimeca). “This will positively change the future of our work and organization. We believe this moment can help define what meaningful land return looks like in an urban city, not just acknowledgment, but action that creates long-term stability, healing, and opportunity.”
The NAYA Board of Directors unanimously authorized moving forward with accepting the property, signaling strong alignment around a development vision centered on permanence, dignity, and intergenerational care. Early plans include the creation of permanently affordable housing, with a focus on Elder housing, potentially in the form of condominium-style homes that remain accessible across generations.
The Oregon Synod’s decision emerges from years of discernment, theological reflection, and engagement with Indigenous leaders. The church’s history, like many institutions in the United States, is intertwined with displacement, colonization, and systemic inequities, including settlement patterns shaped by land dispossession and racial exclusion.
“This project expands the definition of Land Back,” the NAYA CEO added. “It recognizes that Native communities are not only on tribal reservations, but also in cities, and that land return in urban contexts can directly address urgent needs like affordable housing.”
NAYA’s initial vision for the site is intentionally ambitious. Beyond creating permanently affordable, culturally grounded community space, the project represents another major step in the growing Indigenous Cultural Corridor emerging along Northeast 42nd Avenue in Portland’s Cully neighborhood. Led by Native community advocates and organizations including NAYA, the corridor envisions a connected network of Native housing, public art, cultural spaces, and BIPOC-owned businesses that honor the region’s original inhabitants while creating long-term community stability. Developments like the nearby Mamook Tokatee apartments and this land return initiative demonstrate how land justice, affordable housing, Native art, and cultural visibility can work together as part of a broader community development strategy. This project could serve as a framework for faith-based institutions, municipalities, and community organizations exploring land return and Indigenous cultural investment as pathways toward justice.
Further details, including development plans and opportunities for community engagement, will be announced in the coming months.
Check out the article from OPB covering this historic event!
From Sacred Land to Future Housing
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