Established in 1972, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB or the Board) is a non-profit tribal advisory organization serving the forty-three federally recognized tribes of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Each member tribe appoints a Delegate via tribal resolution, and meets quarterly to direct and oversee all activities of NPAIHB. The Board’s office is located in Southwest Portland, OR where it supports over 100 in-person and remote workers.

The mission of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board is to eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life of American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting Northwest Tribes in their delivery of culturally appropriate, high quality healthcare. The Board works to develop epidemiology and research capability, provide strong support for Health Promotion/Disease Prevention efforts, increase Tribes involvement in information systems development, maintain an effective partnership with Indian Health Services (IHS), and provide a strong voice on health related issues at a national level. The Board emphasizes the importance of Tribal Data Sovereignty. This means all information collected by the Board or through their resources, is housed at the Board but belongs to the tribes. 

One of the many programs run by the Board is the Wellness for Every American Indian to Achieve and View Health Equity (WEAVE-NW). This program is funded by the Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Good Health & Wellness In Indian Country (GHWIC) until 2024. As a Component Two: Tribal Organization, the Board allocates at least half their funds to at least four tribes in their area. This expands the program’s reach to more than 130 tribes to further put into action strategies to prevent chronic disease including heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes, which are among the most widespread, costly, and preventable causes of morbidity and mortality for American Indian/Alaska Native populations throughout the United States. 

AmeriCorps member, Luca Green, collaborates under the WEAVE-NW Project and serves as their Tribal Food Systems VISTA. Her year of service provides additional support and resources to five specifically funded subaward tribes in Washington and Oregon that have tribal garden and food distribution programs that promote food sovereignty through their intergenerational, land-based approaches to food availability and distribution efforts. She acts as a connecting point between the tribes and the Boards vast resources by meeting with them monthly to address funding and program management. The AmeriCorps member also assists with organizing members of the Northwest Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition from all over the Pacific Northwest by coordinating subcommittees for their yearly knowledge sharing gathering of over 100 tribal employees, non-profit creators, and many more food sovereignty folks.