CANA came into existence July, 21, 1988 after Non-Indian and Indian communities were inspired by the "Mending the Hoop' held at the University of Denver in 1988 to help the Native American patients that come to Denver for medical care. The CANA name was suggested by Father Joe Bad Moccasin which was modeled on the CANA, Chaplain's Association for Native Americans, which he had worked with in Minneapolis, MN. Ron Dilling was instrumental in incorporating CANA and the Secretary of State issued the Articles of Incorporation for the Chaplains Association for Native Americans July 21, 1988. Generous donations by the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches put CANA on a sound financial beginning. They continue to support CANA every year. Through the years, contributions by individuals, churches, and other organizations have provided financial help which go to daily operating costs and to help clients with basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. CANA has to this date never received government aid of any kind. On November 24, 1993 the name was formally changed to CARING Association for Native Americans when new Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State.

CANA's mission provides outreach and care for Native Americans who are sent to Denver for critical medical care. CANA works with hospital social workers and for those clients who do not qualify for social service assistance programs, CANA fills this gap to help with basic needs of the patient and accompanying family members. Due to CANA's, growth from the beginning, CANA has had to move to larger headquarters . CANA started at the Indian Bible Church on South Logan Street and then to the Volunteers of America facility on Larimer Street. CANA moved to the current location at 1700 South Grant Street in the South Presbyterian Church building in 1995 which has more space and is a more central location.

Only one member of the current board has been with CANA since the very beginning. Blanche Whipple Zembower, Director. Blanche, a Santee Dakota Sioux and daughter of an Episcopal priest, also grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She came to Denver in 1967 and later cared for her father who was ill and went to a nursing home. Once CANA was organized, she devoted herself to helping Native Americans from reservations that came to Denver for medical care. Once a call comes from the hospital's social worker, she visits the patient, offering emotional support and assistance for the visiting family members. Other members of our board often accompany her on these visits. She has received various awards for her work with CANA as well as being the subject of some newspaper articles. She was a recipient of the TV Channel 7 'Hero Award" in 1999. Louise Larrick who was also with CANA from the beginning retired in 2005. She represented the Denver Presbytery at the meeting when CANA was founded and was its treasurer for 13 years and now remains in an advisory capacity. Michael Wenstrom served thirteen years on the board and was also the treasurer for several years after that. The current secretary/treasurer is Elrene Necklace Montanez. She is Yankton-Santee Dakota Sioux and has lived on the Santee reservation at Santee, NE. She attended St. Mary's School for Indian girls in Springfield, SD. She has a BA from Yankton College, Yankton, SD and has done some post graduate work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE. Marty Chase Alone is the current president. He has been the president for 7 years. Marty is also an Honorary Chief of the Oglala Lakota Nation in Pine Ridge, SD. Charles Bearrobe is the spiritual advisor and is also an Oglala Lakota tribal member. He is available to go pray with clients who request prayer from a spiritual advisor. Charles has been with CANA since the 1990's. Father Anthony "Tony" Short is a Catholic Jesuit priest who joined CANA in 1991 until May 2009. He was former Superintendent of St. Stephens School in Wyoming. He worked with Shoshone, Arapahoe and other tribes. He suffered a stroke in Wyoming and was in a nursing home. He came to a retirement home at Regis University and soon joined CANA as a board member and later a volunteer after he withdrew from being a board member. He continued to make home and hospital visits and performed priestly duties until he retired. The Reverend Sue Ann Raymond, an Episcopal Deacon, made home and hospital visits to Indian patients with Blanche while she was in Denver, Colorado. She is presently in the Diocese in Iowa.

The most valuable assets to CANA's cause are the volunteers. CANA volunteers visit patients at the hospital. Two that regularly help keep donated food, clothing and other items in order are Jesse Little Eagle Hammons and Patricia Sykes. There are many others that donate their time when they can. Every minute of donated time from dedicated volunteers is needed and appreciated. CANA has expanded its mission to include the chronically ill at home, nursing homes and hospice in the Denver area. While their basic needs may be met by local agencies, some request emotional and spiritual support from CANA. CANA's mission has become well known to the Native American communities and all of the hundreds of Native Americans from all tribes find the same emotional support and compassion to meet their needs in their time of medical emergency. These patients come from reservations close to Colorado, but have expanded to other states and tribes coast to coast including Alaska. CANA appreciates the financial support, donations of food, clothing, toiletries and household items from everyone that supports our cause to the Native Americans.

May the Creator bless everyone who prays for us and helps us fulfill our mission to Native American people.