In honor of our twenty-year anniversary, Native Action Network launched our first ever Native-led forum for Pacific Northwest grant makers on May 26-27, 2021, 10am-4pm PST both days. The Native-Led Grant Makers Forum included an exclusive, two-day virtual gathering to bring together the Native community and diverse people within philanthropy. One of the goals was to learn more about how investment and reciprocity is key for our long-term relationships. The forum featured experts, executives, and leaders in the Native Community and the realm of philanthropy. The program was meant to provide key insights, tools, lessons, and learnings that respond to the unique strengths, and opportunities that many Native communities, organizations, and grant makers face in their relationship building and partnership efforts.

You can find more information at: https://nativeactionnetwork.org/grantmakers

Native Action Network hosted a series of inspiring virtual, lunch-hour gatherings of our Native Women Warriors from 2020-2021. As a way to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 and ensure the safety and health of our families, these luncheons served as an opportunity to dress up, put on our favorite Native BLING, treat ourselves to our favorite lunch, and relax, connect, and laugh with our Native sisters.

You can find the recorded webinars at: https://nativeactionnetwork.org/luncheons

Native Action Network is pleased to offer a series of workshops for staff and board members working with Native organizations. These courses are intended for anyone interested in serving their community and supporting the growth of Native organizations. Courses are taught by instructors well-immersed in the nonprofit world. In addition, NAN is working to strengthen community capacity by training a group of participants to be instructors in future years. This is a great opportunity to engage staff, as well as to expand the pool of community members who want to serve on nonprofit boards.

You can find all of the recordings at: https://nativeactionnetwork.org/nonprofitworkshops

NAN is dedicated to sharing current information and facts about Covid-19 vaccinations and how we can all help protect our elders, families and communities. We scheduled two webinars with Indigenous healthcare providers on the vaccines, commissioned artwork from several artists in Washington on vaccine promotion, and spoke to Enduring Spirit Award Recipients about the pandemic and recorded their messages to the community.

You can see the webinars, artwork, and Honoree conversations at: nativeactionnetwork.org/covid19-program

COVID-19 had an adverse impact on Native communities and as a result Native households are facing significant economic hardship. To support our community during this challenging time, Native Action Network provided emergency assistance. Assistance was used for covering the cost of housing, utilities, prescriptions and medical costs, transportation expenses, and other day-to-day essentials such as diapers and hygiene products. This initiative was made possible with funds provided by the Equity in Education Coalition. Learn more at nativeactionnetwork.org/events/covid-19-relief-fund.

For Fall 2020, Native Action Network hosted our Native Women Vote outreach initiative. NAN worked with a team of trusted messengers in Washington to increase voter education, registration, and civic participation.

August 19 and 20, 2020, Native Action Network and Vickie Oldman of Seven Sisters Community Development Group hosted an interactive financial planning workshop designed to empower Native women of all ages. The two day sessions benefited participants at any point on their financial journeys and explored how to move from surviving to thriving. Attendees left with concrete steps and tools to plan for their future, while taking advantage of opportunities now like tax credits, scholarships, and relief funds. This workshop was made possible by Union Bank.

NAN is happy to report that with the help of 10 Trusted Messengers, we reached 3,000 people encouraging them to complete the Census. Our messengers distributed sewn masks, gifted handmade jewelry, created coloring pages, mailed teas and healing kits, posted on social media, helped over the phone, and used other creative culturally-informed outreach techniques tailored to Native communities. Thank you to Na'ah Illahee Fund and PNW Natives Count for making this project possible.

Each year on October 4, communities across the world come together to honor the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. As we do so, we remember the lives of sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers tragically taken from us. Each candle is a beacon of hope and strength. In the past, Native Action Network hosted one of three Sisters in Spirit Candlelight Vigils held in the U.S., in Pioneer Square, Seattle. In 2020, NAN hosted a virtual vigil to remember our stolen sisters.

In early November 2016, Native Action Network invited political junkies, civic participants, community friends and families together for an evening gathering at the Westin. We visited and watched the election results come in from across the country.