Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc.

12/18/2025

Join us in celebrating our 55th Anniversary at the NYE Sobriety Powwow!

11/29/2025

Women Who Carry the Moon

They stand before the full moon—
two daughters of the old Earth,
wrapped in turquoise light
and the quiet strength
of generations.

Their braids reach like rivers
toward the stories they inherit,
each feather a promise
carried forward
with steady hands.

They do not bow to the night—
the night bows to them,
recognizing in their silence
a power older than fire,
gentler than dawn,
yet capable of shaping worlds.

Side by side,
they hold the wisdom
of every woman
who has ever healed a wound
with her voice,
her courage,
or the simple act
of continuing on.

And the moon,
glowing full and bright,
leans close to bless them—
for even the sky knows
that women like these
do not just live on the land…
they keep the land alive.

11/27/2025

Healing happens when culture leads the way. Wellbriety Certified Treatment Centers (WCTCs) across the U.S. and Canada embody this truth by integrating the Wellbriety approach into their programs and walking alongside Native individuals and families on their recovery journeys.

Wellbriety Certified Treatment Center – Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc. (NARA).

NARA has served the community since 1970 by offering culturally grounded education, health care, and substance use treatment to Native people and all who seek support. As an Indian-owned and Indian-operated organization, they provide a full circle of care through residential treatment, outpatient services, family programs, wellness initiatives, and transitional housing. Guided by a Cultural Director and informed by Native tradition, NARA attracts individuals from more than 255 tribes. Their commitment to healing includes the integration of White Bison curricula such as the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps, Mending Broken Hearts, and Understanding the Purpose of Life.

Discover more about NARA here: https://tinyurl.com/wctcnaranw

Interested in joining the growing network of Wellbriety Certified Treatment Centers? Visit whitebison.org/treatment-centers or call 719-548-1000 to learn how.

11/26/2025

10/27/2025

http://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfG7FDDlM8xYcmUkPEDhJgmc-7E3Tvbx8B8bTm-h6ScBL4Xcw/viewform

Native Girls Lacrosse Clinic: Lewis & Clark College
PNW Native Lacrosse – All Native Girls Lacrosse Clinic

📅 Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025

⏰ Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM (RAIN OR SHINE)

📍 Location: Lewis & Clark College : Griswold Stadium

Address: 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd Portland, Oregon

We are excited to announce our second ever lacrosse clinic specifically for Native girls, hosted by Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse. This free clinic is open to Indigenous girls of all ages and experience levels—whether you’re picking up a stick for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills.

All participants will receive:

• A free girls lacrosse stick

• PNW Native Lacrosse swag

• Coaching and mentorship

• Connection to the cultural teachings behind the Creator’s Game

This clinic is part of our mission to grow the game where it belongs and create culturally grounded spaces for Indigenous youth—this time, just for our girls.

Space is limited—please register early to secure your spot!

We can’t wait to see you on the field.

For any questions, contact us at: info@pnwnativelacrosse.org

10/24/2025

Did you know Breast Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death for Native American women? You can change this! Know the facts, self-exam, and get screened.

Read about KAI founder JoAnn Kauffman's breast cancer journey here: https://kauffmaninc.com/breaking-the-silence-starting-the-breast-health-conversation-in-our-communities/


American Indian Cancer Foundation National Council of Urban Indian Health Urban Indian Health Institute National Indian Health Board

10/22/2025

The Bear of Red Moonlight

In the old stories told by the fires of the People, the bear was never just an animal. He was a guardian, a warrior, and a teacher—his very presence carried the weight of mountains and the flow of rivers. Among the tribes, the bear was seen as one who walked between worlds: flesh and spirit, strength and wisdom, earth and sky.

In this image, the bear steps forward draped in patterns of red and black, markings that are not mere decoration but living echoes of ancestry. They are the stories carved into his being—the songs of hunters, the prayers of healers, the visions of dreamers. Each line and curve sings of battles endured, of harmony restored, of survival against winter’s cruelty. The designs whisper of a truth often forgotten: that to live is to carry not only your own breath but also the breath of all who came before you.

Behind him rises the crescent of a red moon, ancient and eternal. It is not a moon of darkness, but of transformation—a reminder that cycles shape us, that endings become beginnings, and that even shadows hold wisdom. The red glow spills into his fur like fire running through stone, uniting his form with the cosmos.

The bear, with one paw lifted as if stepping into tomorrow, does not charge nor retreat. He moves with certainty, aware of his place in the great design. His strength is not only in muscle or claw but in the weight of meaning he carries: a living symbol of endurance, courage, and reverence.

For those who gaze upon him, the lesson is clear. We are all marked, as he is—etched by the choices we make, by the struggles we endure, and by the love we give and receive. The true power of life is not found in denying these marks, but in carrying them with honor, letting them remind us of who we are and who we must become.

Thus, the bear of red moonlight endures—neither myth nor mere creature, but a bridge. A bridge between what was, what is, and what waits to be born.