Meet A.

A. previously lived on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, leaving in 1973 after the events at Wounded Knee. Seeking new opportunities, she enrolled in JobCorps and was placed in Astoria, Oregon, where she trained to be a nurse’s aide. Through JobCorps, A. connected with the Native community in Portland, meeting many Sioux families and gradually finding a sense of home.

A. raised her daughter in Portland but moved frequently over the years, eventually ending up in Minneapolis. When she decided to begin her road to recovery and return to Portland, she reached out to the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA). A. left Minneapolis with nothing but the clothes on her back, coming from a period of homelessness. NARA provided her with shelter and essential items as she went through their program, offering A. the support she needed to rebuild her life.

NARA helped A. identify and apply to live at Nesika Illahee, where she has resided for just under a year. They assisted her in setting up her apartment, with nearly everything coming from Community Warehouse, ensuring she had the furnishings and household items necessary for her new home.

Rachel, A.’s NARA case manager, continues to support her with household and hygiene items, and is currently helping her access her pension from the ten years she spent working as a shipyard laborer from 1989 to 1999. At Nesika Illahee, A. enjoys events that bring neighbors together through food and appreciates the sense of community.

Although A. is a newer resident at Nesika Illahee, she has known some of her neighbors for years. Others, she has befriended since she moved in due to the supportive and social environment. A.’s journey highlights the power of community and the crucial role of programs like NARA in helping individuals find stability, connection, and a place to call home.