On June 17, the Northwest Native Chamber hosted its Quarterly Luncheon at Barbie’s Village, bringing together Tribal leaders, Native‑led organizations, and partners committed to strengthening Native-centered child care systems. Over the past two years, NWNC has led transformative work by developing Tribal‑focused funding resources and delivering extensive technical assistance that has helped Tribes and Native organizations access critical investments through the Child Care Infrastructure Fund (CCIF).
The luncheon highlighted these efforts and featured a panel discussion with Chenoa Landry (Puyallup) of Future Generations Collaborative (FGC), Valeria Atanacio (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), owner of Native Mama Scholars, and DELC’s Oregon Tribal Early Learning Alliance (OTELA) Liaison, Dana Castano (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa). The panel explored early learning pathways, public funding opportunities, and community‑driven strategies for expanding child care in ways that strengthen Native children, families, and culture.
In addition, NWNC’s Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist, MyKel Johnson (Nez Perce), presented on the ongoing work to support Tribes and Native‑led organizations in accessing child care infrastructure resources, navigating state opportunities, and building long‑term capacity for Native‑centered early learning systems. The event underscored the innovation, partnership, and collective momentum shaping the future of child care across Native communities.
Pictured above: NWNC’s Quarterly Luncheon, Panel Speakers (pictured from left to right: Valeria Atanacio (Grand Ronde), Native Mama Scholars, Dana Castano (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), DELC OTELA Liaison, Chenoa Landry (Puyallup), FGC Education Mode Lead, and MyKel Johnson (Nez Perce), NWNC Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist
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