Indianz.Com > News > NAYA: Unique Indian housing project on track for completion
Oregon’s first tribal- and artist- preference housing nearly complete
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Source: Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
The following is the text of an August 31, 2021, news release from the Native American Youth and Family Center.
PORTLAND, Oregon — Construction on Oregon’s first tribal- and artist-preference affordable housing development, Mamook Tokatee, will be completed this year.
Mamook Tokatee, which translates to “make beautiful” in the Chinook language, is the Native American Youth and Family Center’s (NAYA), Community Development Partners’, and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians second tribal preference housing partnership in Portland. The Siletz’ participation and allocation of a portion of their Indian Housing Block Grant allows the legal tribal preference policy to be executed.
The four-story new building will provide 56 new permanently affordable homes in Portland’s Cully Neighborhood on the corner of NE Going and NE 42nd Avenue. The building’s first floor will dedicate more than 1,000 square feet for artists and residents to create art and share knowledge together. Other building amenities include a resident community room, on-site services, and nearby access to K-12 public schools, Portland Community College’s Workforce Center, public transit, parks, and NAYA’s community center.

Photos: Nesika Illahee
In January 2020, the Native American Youth and Family Center, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Community Development Partners and the Native American Rehabilitation Association celebrated the completion of the Nesika Illahee affordable housing project in Portland. Nesika Illahee means “our place” in the Chinuk Wawa language.
The photos shown here were taken in February 2020. All photos by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
About Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
NAYA (nayapdx.org) provides culturally specific programs and services that guide our people in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment. Our mission is to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education. About Community Development Partners (CDP)
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners (communitydevpartners.com) develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. The company’s mission is to repair and strengthen the fabric of cities and towns by meeting the housing needs of local citizens through the thoughtful planning and creative development of sustainable, affordable communities. About the Siletz Tribe
A group of many tribes and bands, each with its own language, territory, and customs became the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (ctsi.nsn.us) in the mid-1800s. The Siletz Tribe offers many programs and services to tribal members, including housing, education, health, and social and employment services. Culture and language classes also are available in all areas in which the tribe has offices, including Siletz, Portland, Salem and Eugene.
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