The last two stops on the Native Portland tour speak to communities of Native Americans still active in the greater Portland area.
The first is tucked into a quiet North Portland neighborhood. It's a Native American fellowship who meet at the Wilshire United Methodist Church, and it's the only entry I could find under "Native American Church" in a Google church. I suspect there are more?
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| Photo: Wilshire NAF website |
Nearby, on Columbia Blvd, you can find NAYA: The North American Youth and Family Center, which is a gathering place for the 36,000 urban Native Americans in the Portland area and all over the region. Now 40 years old, its many functions occupy a former elementary school and there is a ton going on: from college and careers services, economic development and community development, community engagement and issues advocacy, elder services and foster care support, help with housing and home ownership, camps, and lots of other youth recreation and education programs. One really interesting program there is the Early College Academy, which integrates local Native culture, family and community outreach, and partnerships with Portland Community College and other postsecondary institutions. The program offers a high school diploma and/or college credit.
NAYA also has a great blog which tells you more about what they're involved in. One program, "Making the Invisible Visible," was an inspiration for this Native Portland Tour!
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