Alexa Numkena-Anderson, an Indigenous — Hopi, Yakama, Skokomish and Cree Nations — and Mexican chef, sees her first restaurant, Javelina, as her duty to the community. Javelina “felt like a necessity in many ways. Lack of representation, I mean, that’s a huge part of it,” Numkena-Anderson said. Aside from Javelina, “There are no Native American restaurants here in Portland, even though we have a huge rich urban Native population here in Portland alone.” The small space, just off Northeast Killingsworth Street, is decorated with Indigenous art, cozy seating and a shelf filled with books, knicknacks, spices and bottles of wine. A kitchen in the main dining area splits the room in half, giving visitors a front-row seat to Numkena-Anderson’s craft. Find a link to the story in our bio. Photo by Vickie Connor #NativeAmerican #javelina #frybread