Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring Local Tribes and Embracing Community Partnerships at New Seasons Market

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day from New Seasons Market ! As we honor the contributions of our friends, neighbors and community members who descend from the rich cultural tapestry of the tribes native to our home in the Portland Metro area and beyond, it is important to first acknowledge some history. 

Portland’s urban Native community is descended from more than 380 tribes, nine of which are sovereign Native American nations located throughout Oregon. The city’s metro area rests on the traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalaypuya, Molalla and many other tribes and bands. 

Many Indigenous communities—peoples or nations have historical continuity with pre-colonial societies –are determined to preserve their connection to their ancestral territories and ethnic identities as the basis of their continued existence as peoples. 

As champions of the regional food economy, New Seasons Market is proud to connect our community with the producers of the region’s best-tasting and most ethically grown food. One of the partnerships we are most excited about is with Yakama Nation Farms , which is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, who provide a variety of delicious seasonal produce available year-round in our stores. You can currently enjoy some varieties of pumpkins and other hard squashes from our friends at Yakama Nation Farms. 

Giving back to the communities we serve is central to our mission. New Seasons Market is committed to ensuring equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food by partnering with those addressing hunger and its root causes. 

Our friends of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe are committed to doing similar work. Through their Cowlitz Tribe Food Sovereignty Coalition, they support a Community Wellness Garden, which fulfills Tribal members’ need for fresh, sustainably grown, culturally significant produce and related products. The Community Wellness Garden also serves the Elders Nutrition Program, as well as more than 100 households of Cowlitz Tribal members, and members of other Native American and Alaskan native tribes. 

Through our Neighbor Rewards loyalty program, customers can earn points for shopping. With our Gift It! Program, members have the opportunity to gift all or part of the rewards they earn (in dollar increments) to one of our featured local partners. One of these partners is the NAYA Family Center (Native American Youth and Family Center). Founded by the community, and for the community, the organization is a family of tribes and voices rooted in sustaining tradition and building cultural wealth through a range of education, health, housing, economic development and community engagement programs. 

Be sure to learn more about Yakama Nation Farms, Cowlitz Indian Tribe and NAYA to see how you can support their vital work!