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35 Years Strong: PWNA’s Journey With Native Communities

   By Joshua Arce

From serving immediate needs to supporting long-term solutions, together we’re shaping the next 35 years.

This year marks 35 years of Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA). It’s a chance to look back at where we started, recognize what we’ve achieved with Native communities, and commit to the road ahead.

Our Beginnings

PWNA began in 1989 as National Relief Charities (NRC) with a mission “to help Native American people improve the quality of their lives by providing opportunities for them to bring about positive changes in their communities.”

In the early years our origin story was modest while we focused on providing only food and clothing to one single, isolated reservation in South Dakota. But as we listened to tribal leaders and grassroots partners, we recognized that communities needed more than short-term aid.

Over time, NRC grew from a small office with shopping carts and pickup trucks to two warehouses, semi-trucks, and hundreds of partnerships with reservation-based programs across the Southwest and Northern Plains. More importantly, we shifted our focus — moving from direct distribution to partnering with community leaders and volunteers who knew how to best meet the needs in their communities.

This approach made our work more effective and strengthened Native voices and self-determination. This unique model also allowed us to utilize expertise and knowledge other Native charities lacked. When NRC became Partnership With Native Americans, the new name reflected this change, moving towards a deeper commitment to long-term solutions and true partnership.

PWNA Today

PWNA is now one of the largest Native-led, Native-serving nonprofits in the U.S. Each year, we work with hundreds of reservation-based partners to reach more almost 150,000 Native Americans in some of the most under-resourced areas.

Together, we:

  • Deliver food and clean water to communities facing food insecurity
  • Expand access to health care and vital supportive services
  • Respond to disasters where outside help is often delayed
  • Invest in education and leadership for the next generation of community leaders
  • Strengthen animal welfare by supporting spay/neuter, vaccination, and rescue programs
  • Share holiday cheer with stockings and gift bags for children and Elders

Our work is possible because of a true partnership between local volunteers, Tribal leaders, PWNA staff, donors, and other allies — all committed to making our vision of strong, self-sufficient Native American communities a reality. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or joined recently, your support fuels this vision. Thank you.

Looking Ahead

Our focus for the future remains clear: respond in times of crisis while building long-term strength. We will continue supporting food sovereignty, education, leadership development, and healthier communities, always guided by the needs of our partners.

As we imagine the next 35 years, we ask: what will Native communities look like in 2060?

  • Will food insecurity still be a concern — or will today’s investment in food sovereignty and education bring lasting change? Access to food is one of the toughest challenges in Native communities. PWNA is responding with emergency food, fresh produce, bulk goods, and community meals. Beyond relief, we are supporting food sovereignty through training and other projects that help restore traditional foodways, build healthier options, and strengthen local food systems.
  • Will Native Americans continue to experience disproportionately high rates of preventable health disparities— or will access to health care and wellness initiatives improve health outcomes for future generations? PWNA is helping improve health outcomes in tribal communities by partnering with reservation-based programs addressing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer care, disabilities, mental health, substance abuse, and violence prevention. Our role is to help people connect with health services sooner and support programs that strengthen long-term wellness.
  • Will Native students remain underrepresented in higher education — or will the seeds planted by programs like AIEF grow into a stronger presence of Native leaders in colleges and universities? In addition to providing backpacks and school supplies to young students, ensuring their readiness for the school year, PWNA is also supporting students in college and trade school through scholarships. When students return home to share their skills, these investments ripple through entire communities and create an economic echo several times over.

PWNA’s vision is that these challenges will fade as Native-led solutions take root. With your support, we are building toward a future where Native families are healthier, communities are more self-sufficient, and young leaders are prepared to carry their heritage forward.

We are ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead. With our partners, allies, and donors, we will keep listening, adapting, and working side by side with Tribal communities. Here’s to honoring the past, building today, and shaping the next 35 years together.