Spotlight on NAYA: Centering Native Values and Vision

NAYA nurtures self-determination with the Indigenous urban population of Portland.

“In this moment, resilience alone is not enough,” says Oscar Arana (Chichimeca), CEO of Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). “We need strong, courageous partnerships and investments to safeguard the progress we have made and to build the just future our communities envision.”

In 1974, concerned about educational outcomes of their kids, members of Portland’s Native community founded NAYA as an all-volunteer organization that embraced a culturally specific approach before that concept was widely practiced.

Back then, basketball was the hook to get kids into after-school tutoring to improve their academics—and to connect to their culture. Today NAYA has grown into an anchor cultural institution and community hub for Portland’s urban Native American population. And it also has offices to serve the Native communities of Milwaukie, OR, and Vancouver, WA.

With almost 170 employees, NAYA has seen significant expansion from its early days. But its programs and approach remain rooted in Indigenous values and informed by the wisdom of community elders.​

NAYA grew out of a shared need deeply rooted in culture and community.

Now based in a repurposed public school in northeast Portland, NAYA’s programs have expanded well beyond after-school programs and dances. Eleven formal programs have emerged to meet the needs of the area’s Native population.

Its wraparound services grounded in healing the community in mind, body, and spirit include youth camps, traditional wellness resources, early childhood options, elder services, foster care services, community development, housing development and management, and more.

Arana has worked for NAYA in a variety of leadership roles for 16 of the organization’s 50 years—and before that, he volunteered as a middle school dance chaperone.

“Every day as I walk down NAYA’s hallways I run into our clients, our community members, our elders,” says Arana. “They pull me aside and let me know when things are going well and when they’re not. They share ideas about what they’d like to see. Sometimes, I eat lunch with our elders, which allows for a natural and organic dialogue.

“These are some of the ways our work is grounded in community and how they inform our leadership and strategic priorities.”

NAYA’s community-led approach shines through.

Long-term dedication to NAYA isn’t uncommon. A number of staff members and participants remain involved. Former clients serve on its board and its staff, illustrating how their positive experiences with NAYA’s programs inspire them to give back to their community.

“When I got to NAYA, I was just surviving each day, just trying to graduate high school. I had no plan past that,” recalls Goodlance. “Then in my senior year, we visited campuses, and I decided I did want to go to college.”

Fast-forward several years: Goodlance holds a public health degree from Portland State University, and he’s helping others achieve their educational goals as part of NAYA’s College and Career Services program.

“I help youth and adults with GED prep, creating plans based on their individual needs,” he says. “It’s really fulfilling to be the guy who gets to help people pursue their educational journey.”

Self-determination and healing are achieved through shared commitment.

Northwest Area Foundation has counted NAYA among its grantee partners since 2014. That decade of collaboration has helped NAYA advance its mission to foster cultural connection, strengthen Native identity, and build thriving, self-determined communities.

“For generations, Indigenous people have resisted policies designed with the goal of erasure and disconnection from our culture,” Arana notes. “NAYA advocates for and builds systems that reflect Native values. We ask funders to stand firmly in alignment with their values, and ours, even in moments of uncertainty, and to continue investing in Indigenous-led solutions.”