Over the years, we’ve learned that HOINA (ho-EE-nah), an acronym for Homes of the Indian Nation, means different things to different people.  

• In Apache it means "God gives life"

• In Nepalese it means "to have not"

•  In a tribal language of Oaxaca, Mexico, it means "heaven"

•  In Cantonese it means "can do"

•  In Poland it is "the evergreen tree"

•  In the Philippines it means both "mother" and "respect for the elderly"

•  In village Japanese the meaning is "right now"

•  In Ethiopia's Amharic language it means "may good be upon you"

It also has meanings in many of India's languages

•  In Hindi it means "to have nothing"

•  In Tamil it means "a medicine tree"

•  In Bengali it means "it is impossible"

•  In Northern India it means "it must happen"

•  In Sanskrit, an ancient language of India, it means "abandoned" and "sacrifice"

To the hundreds of handicapped, abandoned, sick, and lost, HOINA means life, health, and hope. To all who share its mission, HOINA is a blessing.