Our mission at the Mary Kiona Foundation is to provide accessible spaces, resources, and education to preserve indigenous knowledge, foster healing, and strengthen our bonds with the community. We are dedicated to honoring the enduring legacy of Mary Kiona by actively reclaiming and revitalizing Native American heritage and celebrating the rich ancestral contributions of our people. Our vision is rooted in the belief that by actively preserving and revitalizing Native American cultural heritage, we can create a holistic future where our community is able to thrive, with economic security and housing stability. Mary Kiona, a Yakama Tribal member, was born in the 1800’s and lived to be well over 115 years old. She is well known for her skill in weaving cedar root baskets. She lived through small pox that was intentionally spread to Indigenous communities through infected army blankets, boarding schools, loss of culture, and genocide. She lived a long and strong life through maintaining her culture,creating art, eating a traditional native diet, and other living in community. She demonstrated how maintaining and nurturing a strong cultural identity can strengthen community and support wellness. Her life is the model that the Mary Kiona Foundation is built on. Housing First rapidly ends houselessness, is cost-effective, and positively impacts quality of life and community functioning. It allows access to housing without strings, honors tenant choice, is recovery oriented, includes individual and person-centered supports, and opportunity to engage in social and community activities. Housing First aligns with Mary Kiona Foundation’s commitment to economic and housing stability through creating communities where all are welcome and invited into the community as they choose to participate.