Portland All Nations Canoe Family is an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) whose mission is to preserve Indigenous culture by nurturing families and protecting water. We were previously the NAYA Canoe Family from 2013- 17, and in 2018 became our own organization serving Portland Urban NA/AN families and in collaboration with Tribes around the PNW Canoe Journey and other cultural programming. We do this through cross-generational community building, cultural strengthening, and continuing to deepen our connection to the environment. We have participated in PNW Tribal Canoe Journeys since 2012.
Our members are from over 40 Nations, bands, and villages. We provide cultural programming that centers traditional canoe culture and maintains kinship connections with our Tribal and ecological relatives. Our programming builds leadership and team-building opportunities for our youth and young people that support their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being by providing place-based cultural connections to the people and the lands where we live and travel to.