Our Community Dinner in Umatilla County
NWHF board member Eddie Melendrez has a new tradition of bring art along to everything. He gifted this painting to Zaira Sanchez, Director of Community Organizing at Oregon Rural Action.
Last year we revived our tradition of community dinners, through which NWHF staff have the chance to spend time with community leaders in an informal setting with a very loose agenda.
We were already venturing to Umatilla County for a board retreat and were lucky enough to have a host in NWHF Vice Chair Corrine Sams, an elected Board of Trustees Member for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
One highlight: We visited the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton — the only museum on the Oregon Trail that tells the story of western expansionism from a tribal point of view. Tamástslikt (from the Walla Walla Indian language, meaning "interpreting our own story") is a beautiful museum that honors the past and celebrates the future. We wish we had time to see more of the exhibits!
Our annual retreats allow NWHF’s board and staff to dig deep into our goals for the upcoming year, as well as to learn about different parts of our region. While in community we always prioritize breaking bread with leaders and learning directly from them the challenges and opportunities their communities face. This shapes our decision making into the future.
Narrowing down 20-30 leaders to invite is always challenging, no matter how big or small the geographic community. We are especially thankful that one of our invitees encouraged us to make a more intentional effort to include youth voices.
On the evening of our dinner, we were joined by leaders from Euvalcree, Oregon Rural Action, Oregon Washington Health Network, Pendleton Community Action Coalition and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, including members of their youth council. We enjoyed a Delish-ious dinner and wonderful company. What a treat to hear from leaders across the region!
Interacting with members of the youth council was an absolute privilege. These are a few of the items they shared:
Coming back from the isolation of COVID continues to be a challenge
Their peers are struggling with vaping
Many of them have had opportunities to travel, whether it be to DC to lobby or to neighboring tribes to build cross-cultural connections, as members of youth council
These youth are tremendous advocates for their hometown, enthusiastically highlighting all that it offers visitors and residents
We look forward to staying in touch with everyone who attended the dinner, and we hope the leaders who attended will continue to connect with one another.
Much appreciation to everyone who made this dinner possible! We look forward to our next community dinner in Southern Oregon this fall.