SWACH’s Native and Tribal Partnerships work centers on relationships, community events, and projects shaped by needs identified by Native communities and the organizations.
One recent example of this approach was a partnership between SWACH, One Community Health, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. On Sept. 25, One Community Health hosted a resource day in Stevenson through its Native and Wellness program, bringing its mobile clinic to the event and connecting community members with health services and other resources.
As part of the event, SWACH supported the distribution of food boxes designed with accessibility in mind. Mercedes White Calf, SWACH’s Native and Tribal Liaison, said food access had emerged as an important need among Native community members served by One Community Health. Access to food can become especially challenging during gaps in food assistance or while people are waiting for benefits to be restored.
Recognizing that not everyone has access to a fully equipped kitchen, White Calf looked at ways to make the food as low barrier as possible. The boxes included a mix of items such as beef, chicken, bread, peanut butter and jelly, tuna, and other foods suited to varying levels of access to electricity, cookware, utensils, and kitchen space.
The partnership also connects to a broader Washington State Department of Agriculture effort focused on understanding food access and the food safety net. SWACH is helping bring Native and Tribal perspectives into that work while respecting Tribal sovereignty and data protection. Rather than seeking information directly from Tribal governments, SWACH is working with Tribal-serving organizations and creating opportunities for Native community members to participate voluntarily. SWACH is also considering a listening session to better understand barriers, gaps, and how people currently access food resources.
For White Calf, the partnership also provided a closer look at how One Community Health builds trust with Native communities through its mobile services.
Creating space for community and celebration
Relationship-building also takes place outside formal programs.
This fall, SWACH plans to participate in community Trunk or Treat events. White Calf described the events as an important opportunity for Native children and families who may live far apart from one another and may not have the same access to traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating. Cars are decorated around different themes, creating a central place for children and families to gather, celebrate, and participate together.
White Calf plans to participate by decorating a car and handing out treats. Other SWACH staff may also participate in the event.
Looking ahead to Native advocacy work
SWACH is also beginning early planning for Native community advocacy and civic participation ahead of the 2027 Washington legislative session.
White Calf is exploring opportunities to support Native community members who want to learn more and engage in the legislative process, including how bills move forward, how to communicate with legislators, how to prepare testimony, and how to sign up to testify. She emphasized the importance of making that information understandable and avoiding legislative language that can itself become a barrier to participation.
The work is still in the planning stage, and dates and details have not yet been finalized. As plans develop, SWACH expects to share more information about opportunities for Native community members and partners to learn about the legislative process and participate in advocacy.
Across each of these efforts, the approach is similar: build relationships first, listen to the needs identified by communities and partners, and look for practical ways SWACH can support the work already happening across the region.