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NAYA Reconvenes Elders and Youth Council

NAYA's Portland Youth and Elders Council (PYEC) is a grassroots advocacy group housed at NAYA Family Center and is open to everyone interested in building a strong civic connection with the local Native American community. 

In developing the council, the Portland Urban Native American community used community-based research and inclusive input to develop greater community ties and advocate for improving the quality of life for Native Americans in urban areas. PYEC’s current focus is on creating space for inter-generational relationship building and tradition sharing, policy work regarding poverty reduction and environmental justice and supporting the Canoe Family journey. 

At the March PYEC meeting, attendees voted in a Steering Committee comprised of three youth, four adults and two Elders. The Steering Committee will offer a governance structure and help to create meeting agendas. The conclusions the group reached are the beginning of a larger discussion and having a community-based, participatory approach is a fundamental value of the Council. 

Open to members of Portland's urban Indian community, PYEC is held the second Tuesday of the month, 6-8pm at NAYA, 5135 NE Columbia Blvd. 




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