NATIVE Project is a community health center that provides health and human services to its patients, while specializing in the care of Native people. We are a leader in the promotion of health improvement for urban American Indians and Alaska Natives, locally and regionally. We believe in Sacred Hospitality for all.

History

We began as an organization that serves Native American youth in the city of Spokane, and we have expanded our care to include adult and elder Native Americans as well as other people of color and impoverished who need our services. Spokane is the eighth-largest urban Indian city in the United States (source: Indian Health Service). Spokane County has people from over 300 tribes that live here because of the 1950s federal relocation policy, where people came here from reservations to work in the mines, railroad, and Kaiser Aluminum. Urban Indians are indigenous people currently living away from federally defined tribal lands in urban areas (source: Seattle Indian Health Board). Today, 7 out of 10 American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban settings. Urban Indians are often an overlooked population in society even though they represent the majority of American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the country. Over the last century, Native people moved to, or were forced to relocate to, urban areas because of government policy, lack of economic opportunities, and limited access to healthcare and other services (source: Seattle Indian Health Board).

NATIVE Project is a true community-based, community-grown organization. We began in 1989 with $100 and provide services such as leadership camp, licensed adolescent substance use disorder treatment, mental health services for children and adolescents, and family counseling and education.

“We all passed the hat one day, and we got $100, and our accountant who is still our accountant told us that to apply for a Secretary of State license and to apply for 501(c)(3) status, we’re going to need $125. One of our board members donated an old car; we took it up to the Kalispel Tribe Powwow and raffled it off. We got like $200, so we had enough to incorporate, and that was 1989. In 2018, our budget was $10 million. It’s such a community effort.” ~ Toni Lodge

“Sacred Hospitality is an intentionally created practice where our compassion meets the needs of our patients, staff, and community; where they are welcomed, cherished, and respected as human beings; where stories are shared and valued; and where healing of the body, mind, and spirit can happen.” ~ Toni Lodge

Our mission is to provide quality services that promote wellness and balance of mind, body, and spirit for individuals, staff, families, and communities. Focusing on “Sacred Hospitality,” we provide services for all people who are seeking medical, dental, behavioral health, or wellness and prevention services.

The NATIVE Project opened its medical facility in 1999. The NATIVE Project’s clinic is funded by Indian Health Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration. In 2011, the clinic became a federally qualified community health center, with services available to everyone, not just Native Americans.

“We are probably one of the most integrated behavioral health and medical clinics in the area doing this Medicaid transformation work. It's very invigorating to be able to serve not only Native people but other people of color, Medicaid patients, and to serve people in West Central. We are the safety net of the safety net.” ~Toni Lodge

np-new

While NATIVE Project’s area of expertise might be Indian Health, we are here to serve all. In 2018 alone we had 6,500 patients. This however created a problem, as the ideal capacity is 5,700 patients. The need is there for a new building, and one that has been constructed in 2024 and is ready to serve as we reach 2025. The Native Project's new youth center is a four-story, 15,000-square-foot building that will free up room to provide wellness, behavioral, and medical services at its existing health care clinic. The youth center will serve the BIPOC kids of Spokane, and its programs will be immersed in cultural humility for therapy, counseling, activities, and prevention education. Behavioral, cultural, and healing services and activities will be provided in both open group settings and private meeting rooms in the new building.

Each floor represents what the NATIVE Project teaches kids throughout their time here. The first floor is the turtle level for the youngest, followed by salmon on the second floor, bears on the third floor, and eagles on the fourth floor. The levels represent what we teach them in our leadership program: to become warriors, nurturers, scholars, and community activists. Those four levels are representative of the vibrance of medicine—the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

The front of the youth center is a circular room lined with large windows and named the Cullooyah Center Circle. This space will be used for ceremonies, healing circles, art activities, and prevention programs. The Circle is named in remembrance for a Kalispel Tribal Elder, Francis Cullooyah, who believed in the future of our youth.

“A third of our population is under 18, and so a third of all our programming needs to be for people under 18.” ~Toni Lodge

The NATIVE Project’s logo has seven stones and four feathers, embracing generations.

“From an Indian perspective, that’s what the seven stones are, thinking of seven generations ahead and the four feathers are four directions. If you’re really thinking about the future, it has to be about the kids.” ~Toni Lodge

The Native Project

Mission

Our mission is to provide quality services that promote wellness and balance of mind, body, and spirit for individuals, staff, families, and communities.

Vision

The NATIVE Project has a vision of the community that promotes balance and harmony in the pursuit of the following.

  • Drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles
  • Spiritual, cultural and traditional Native values
  • Wellness and balance of mind, body and spirit for each person
  • Respect and integration of all healing paths to wellness for self and others
  • Lifestyles which encourage and are supportive of prosperity
  • Education and awareness

By creating a circle of care using one team and one voice, individuals, staff, families and agencies will utilize skills, leadership, cultural and spiritual consciousness to give back to his or her community by living as WARRIORS, NURTURERS, SCHOLARS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

Patient-Centered Care

Our philosophy for service delivery embraces patient-centered care. In short, our team commits to providing patient-centered care that includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness and healing through the practice of “Sacred Hospitality.”

Our philosophy has roots in the medical model of disease prevention, treatment and management that incorporates a solution-based recovery-oriented model of care. The recovery-oriented model includes drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles and uses evidence-based and promising practices to promote healing, wellness, and prevention in individuals, families, staff, and communities in the Spokane region.

You, the patient, are the most important part of patient-centered care. When you take an active role in your health and work closely with us, you can be sure that you’re getting the care you need. We develop culturally appropriate plans based on your age, gender, ethnicity, and life circumstances.

In our patient-centered care model, we

  • Are available when you need us. You can communicate with us easily and make appointments quickly.
  • Know you and your health history. We can suggest treatment options that make sense for you.
  • Help you understand your condition(s) and how to take care of yourself.
  • Help you coordinate your health needs. We will help you find specialists, make appointments, and make sure specialists have the information they need to care for you.
  • Use technology. We share records within HIPPA to help prevent medical errors, ensure that we are always on the same page, and protect your privacy.
  • Offer counseling support through an integrated care with behavioral health to protect your privacy.
  • Offer prevention services through education, peer support, and mentorship.