The second week of December was special for the Northwest Portland Area Indian

Health Board, for all its staff gathered in Portland, Oregon on the Portland State University campus for the December Retreat. At the December Retreat, staff gathered to collectively join together to close out 2023 and look with inspiration to 2024 in serving NW Tribes.

Starting on Thursday, staff who attended the Retreat donned their favorite t-shirt as

Laura Platero, Executive Director, and Tam Lutz, Deputy Director, welcomed the organization and started us off in a positive way. Following this warm welcome, Marches Armstrong, Jericho Cummings, Tommy Ghost Dog, Melino Gianotti, Catherine Stensgar, and Kadi White led staff in various activities and games that emphasized “Being in Space Together.” 

Sharing details that ranged from “whether or not one was an only child,” or “[Has anyone] ever had something go viral on the internet?” NPAIHB staff got to know one another better and better as the day went on. After sharing many great laughs and stories, the staff took a break for lunch before joining their training tracks for the day.

Topics for the day one training tracks included: Professional Writing for Emails - led by Laura Platero & China Ching - and Strengthening Facilitation Skills & Strategies/

Leadership Style - led by Uprising Collective. In these two-hour sessions, NPAIHB staff shared strategies for improving these areas and increasing one’s leadership skills. Shae Williams, Web & Graphics Designer, believes the Professional Writing for Emails track was “fun and helpful,” in refreshing some of the skills used in their role. As the eventful day one slowed down, the staff closed out and returned to their resting places before coming back the next day for a day set to be just as exciting as day one.

Day two of the NPAIHB December Retreat kicked off with Naomi Jacobson, Training & Outreach Manager, leading the opening with her wonderful words and story. This warm welcome was followed by a panel filled with Indigenous leadership experience. The panel, Leadership Voices from the Northwest: Youth/Elder/Tribal Dialogue, was filled with Indigenous leaders like Chairman Nickolaus Lewis, Dr. John Spence, Maiya Martinez & and Justine Bautista. Members of the panel shared their experiences working with NPAIHB and how they first began to be involved with the Board. 

These moving words and stories empowered NPAIHB staff as they began to reflect on all the amazing work they accomplished in 2023. Wrapping up the day, NPAIHB staff convened in the Portland State University Game Room with their loved ones to play games and celebrate the upcoming holidays! Staff traded cookies, swapped white elephant gifts, played pool, bowled, and took portraits with their family and friends. The 2023 NPAIHB staff retreat proved to be empowering and unifying for staff who do not get the opportunity to see their fellow team members regularly